Jothar, thanks for the info on Newton. I have written in the past here that he was a truly great man. It is hard to believe what he accomplished in every area of physics and math. He probably was the one who ended the dark ages, and began the scientific revolution (although he acknowledges that everything he accomplished was due to the efforts of those who preceded him). He was a fine baal midos, from what I can determine.
The thing we need to be aware of is that Torah represents menschlachkeit, and that is its whole purpose. Science does not guarantee menschlachkeit. The Nazis were advanced in science and technology. Some scientists are also atheists. This is why science in and of itself is not a worthy goal. Only when one realizes through Torah that there is a Borei and he values chesed and helping others, then one’s study of science can be elevated to a sublime purpose. I find no more worthy purpose than working in a lab trying to ease the suffering of those who are afflicted with certain terrible diseases. Each person needs to find a derech which makes him feel that he is doing the most with his life.
If Torah is studied with the purpose of elevating the world and making shalom among all people, then that is a sublime purpose. However, when it is studied for the purpose of becoming arrogant and putting others down, it is probably better that it had never been studied, as the Mishnah says in Chagiga.