“Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”
- January 4, 1643 – March 31, 1727
- Born in England (UK)
- Natural philosopher, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian
- Proposed the laws of universal gravitation and motion, built the foundations of modern science, and systematized theories of natural philosophy and mathematics.
Quote
“Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”
Explanation
In this quote, Isaac Newton reflects on the fine-tuning of the solar system, particularly how the Earth is positioned at the perfect distance from the Sun to sustain life. Newton argues that the precise conditions necessary for life—such as the correct balance of heat and light from the Sun—cannot be a product of chance but must be the result of deliberate design by a divine Creator. His belief in the intelligent design of the universe aligns with his broader view that the natural world operates according to orderly, rational laws established by a higher intelligence.
Newton’s statement highlights his theistic worldview, where the complexity and order of the universe are seen as evidence of a divine architect. In the case of the Earth’s position relative to the Sun, he sees the precision of this balance as too perfect to have come about randomly. For Newton, the fact that the Earth exists in a location that allows for life—neither too close nor too far from the Sun—points to the intentionality of a Creator, rather than a purely random or atheistic explanation.
In modern times, this sentiment is echoed by those who see the fine-tuning of the universe as evidence of a creator. However, others have explained such phenomena through natural processes, such as the laws of physics and cosmology, including the anthropic principle in which the universe appears to be suited for life because, if it weren’t, we wouldn’t be here to observe it. Still, Newton’s quote remains a significant part of the ongoing discussion between science and theology, where the order and complexity of the universe continue to raise questions about the existence of a divine creator. For Newton, the beauty and order he observed in the solar system and throughout nature pointed firmly to the existence of an intelligent designer behind the universe.
