Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: Difference between revisions
imported>Larry Sanger (Also among philosophers, as it happens...) |
imported>Paul Wormer (restricted knowledge of monads to philosphers. Every student of calculus knows Leibniz, few have heard of monads.) |
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'''Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz''' (1646-1716) was, with [[Descartes]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]], one of the leading [[rationalism|rationalists]], and perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called ''[[monad]]s.'' | '''Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz''' (1646-1716) was, with [[Descartes]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]], one of the leading [[rationalism|rationalists]], and among philosophers perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called ''[[monad]]s.'' Among students of mathematics Leibniz is celebrated for his discovery of the [[infinitesimal calculus]] made at about the same time as [[Newton]] (in the 1670s). Leibniz devised a notation for [[derivative]]s of functions which is more convenient and more widely applied than Newton's [[fluxion]] notation. Newton, Leibniz, and above all their followers, had a famous and unpleasant priority dispute about the discovery of calculus. Leibniz is also well known for his view, expressed for example in his ''Theodicy,'' that "this is the best of all possible worlds"--which was [[lampoons of philosophers|lampooned]] by [[Voltaire]] in the character of Dr. Pangloss in his ''[[Candide]].'' | ||
Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "[[Discourse on Metaphysics (essay by Leibniz)|Discourse on Metaphysics]]" and "[[Monadology]]." | Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "[[Discourse on Metaphysics (essay by Leibniz)|Discourse on Metaphysics]]" and "[[Monadology]]." | ||
Revision as of 03:33, 3 February 2009
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was, with Descartes and Spinoza, one of the leading rationalists, and among philosophers perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called monads. Among students of mathematics Leibniz is celebrated for his discovery of the infinitesimal calculus made at about the same time as Newton (in the 1670s). Leibniz devised a notation for derivatives of functions which is more convenient and more widely applied than Newton's fluxion notation. Newton, Leibniz, and above all their followers, had a famous and unpleasant priority dispute about the discovery of calculus. Leibniz is also well known for his view, expressed for example in his Theodicy, that "this is the best of all possible worlds"--which was lampooned by Voltaire in the character of Dr. Pangloss in his Candide.
Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "Discourse on Metaphysics" and "Monadology."