Plato is my friend; Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest

"Plato is my friend; Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest friend is truth." These words from Isaac Newton echo the deepest of philosophical insights, where the pursuit of truth stands above all other allegiances, even those to the great minds that came before him. Newton, a pioneer of science, pays homage to Plato and Aristotle—two of the most influential philosophers in history—but asserts that truth is the greatest companion in the quest for understanding. To Newton, the brilliance of philosophy and scientific inquiry lies not in the reverence of past thinkers or established wisdom, but in the truth they uncovered and the truth that remained to be discovered. This view calls on us to honor the intellectual heritage of past minds, but to also seek truth as our highest and most loyal friend.

In the ancient world, truth was considered both a divine and eternal pursuit. Plato, in his dialogues, saw truth as something absolute, tied to the world of the Forms—perfect, unchanging, and transcendent. For Plato, the philosopher’s role was to look beyond the shadows of the material world and seek the eternal truths that reside in the realm of ideals. Aristotle, his pupil, took a more empirical approach, grounding truth in the observable world, where logic and reason guide us to understand the workings of nature. Though their methods diverged, both sought to uncover the truth of the world. Newton, in his pursuit of scientific knowledge, stood on their shoulders, acknowledging the importance of their teachings, but firmly placing truth above their philosophies, as he sought to reveal the workings of the universe with mathematical precision.

Newton's words are particularly resonant when considering his own monumental discoveries, such as the laws of motion and universal gravitation. Like Plato and Aristotle, he built upon the foundations laid by those before him, yet he looked to the truth itself, not merely the doctrines of the great thinkers. Newton’s breakthroughs were not simply the applications of previous ideas; they were the unveiling of a deeper truth about how the world and the heavens function. His statement reflects a life dedicated to finding the truth within nature, transcending the philosophical debates of his time, and creating a new era of scientific inquiry that laid the groundwork for future generations.

The truth that Newton speaks of is not merely an abstract concept or an intellectual pursuit; it is a force that shapes our understanding of the universe. Think of the ancient astronomers who, through observation and thought, uncovered the truth about the stars and planets, yet Newton’s work took that truth and grounded it in reality. Galileo, with his telescope, had already begun to challenge accepted truths about the cosmos, but Newton showed how the movements of the heavens could be understood through the universal law of gravitation. The truth he discovered was not merely a set of principles; it was the language of the universe, the key to understanding not just the heavens but the laws of nature governing all of existence.

This view of truth as something transcendent yet deeply rooted in the real world is echoed in the lives of countless individuals who have sought to unearth what lies beneath the surface of appearances. Marie Curie, for instance, uncovered the hidden truths of radioactivity, pushing forward the boundaries of scientific discovery, not because she was loyal to any school of thought, but because she followed the truth wherever it led. Curie, like Newton, revered the great thinkers of the past, but her greatest allegiance was to the truth that guided her discoveries. Her work illuminated the very nature of matter, just as Newton’s laws revealed the inner workings of the physical world.

The lesson of Newton’s words is one of unwavering pursuit—a pursuit not of reputation or status, but of the truth itself. It is a reminder that while we should value the wisdom of those who came before us, the highest calling is to seek truth—not as a static entity, but as a living, evolving force. The philosophers, the scientists, the artists of the world may offer us guidance, but we must follow the path of truth wherever it leads, even when it challenges long-held beliefs or popular conventions. Truth is not a prize to be claimed but a journey to be embarked upon with humility, courage, and conviction.

As we move forward, let us consider Newton’s insight in our own lives: Are we following the truth, or are we clinging to outdated ideas because they are comfortable or familiar? Are we willing to re-examine our beliefs, to allow the truth to reshape us, as Newton did in his time? Like him, we must choose truth as our most faithful companion—one that transforms us, guides us, and pushes us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. By doing so, we align ourselves with the greatest forces of knowledge and wisdom that have shaped the course of human history. Let truth be our compass, and as it was for Newton, may it lead us to the discovery of the most profound realities of the universe.