The essays offer a unified and comprehensive view of 17th century mathematical and metaphysical disputes over status of infinitesimals, particularly the question whether they were real or mere fictions. Leibniz’s development of the calculus and his understanding of its metaphysical foundation are taken as both a point of departure and a frame of reference for the 17th century discussions of infinitesimals, that involved Hobbes, Wallis, Newton, Bernoulli, Hermann, and Nieuwentijt. Although the calculus was undoubtedly successful in mathematical practice, it remained controversial because its procedures seemed to lack an adequate metaphysical or methodological justification. The topic is also of philosophical interest, because Leibniz freely employed the language of infinitesimal quantities in the foundations of his dynamics and theory of forces. Thus, philosophical disputes over the Leibnizian science of bodies naturally involve questions about the nature of infinitesimals. The volume also includes newly discovered Leibnizian marginalia in the mathematical writings of Hobbes.
Ursula Goldenbaum & Douglas Jesseph
Infinitesimal Differences
Controversies between Leibniz and his Contemporaries
Infinitesimal Differences
Controversies between Leibniz and his Contemporaries
Limba Engleză ● Format PDF ● Pagini 633 ● ISBN 9783110211863 ● Mărime fișier 12.0 MB ● Editor Ursula Goldenbaum & Douglas Jesseph ● Editura De Gruyter ● Oraș Berlin/Boston ● Publicat 2008 ● Ediție 1 ● Descărcabil 24 luni ● Valută EUR ● ID 2154181 ● Protecție împotriva copiilor Adobe DRM
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