[Quantumcat (OP)]

For a part of a chemistry assignment I have to dicuss the quote by Isaac Newton, "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants"

If anyone is experienced on the history of the start of the periodic table, I would be very very grateful for an outline ! Or what people's work Newton used to help him .... the assignment as a whole revolves around the periodic table and its history.

I remember a quote from somewhere, I think it was the novel Sophie's World, that was the reverse quote "If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders" Unfortunately I've lent my copy to a friend and the library is empty of it

Was this a real quote, and who said it, and what exactly did they mean, do you know? It must be something to do with that God-awful Church (no pun intended) of the time quashing down good science!  If it's a real quote I can use it in my essay ... so if you know, don't hesitate to speak up

[Exodus]

i cant help you with the periodic table but i know for a fact that Isaac Newton was a total loonie! He was of course a very clever man, but he was also a recluse and had some kind of schitzophrenia or something i think.

Essentia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem...

[chris]

The claim was actually that he had autism rather than schizophrenia because of the bizarre personality traits he exhibited including obsessive working patterns and relating poorly to other people.

Regarding the periodic table, look up Mendeleev who was instrumental in putting parts of it together.

Chris