In 1783, an English rector predicted black holes using classical mechanics
Isn't it a bit like getting to correct answer by incorrect reasoning? I was thinking that knowledge of how space curves in presence of high energies/masses and time/length dilation concepts are necessary to come to the conclusion that light will be slowed down beyond its speed in certain circumstances?Maybe a bit similar to e.g. Gordiano Bruno's claim that stars are similar to our sun, and there are planets around them, not on the basis of observations and data analysis but b/c of some relatively unrelated to astronomy philosophical reasoning.Also, alchemy :) (some concepts were right)