This book draws its inspiration from Hilbert, Wittgenstein, Cavaillès and Lakatos and is designed to reconfigure contemporary philosophy of mathematics by making the growth of knowledge rather than its foundations central to the study of mathematical rationality, and by analyzing the notion of growth in historical as well as logical terms. Not a mere compendium of opinions, it is organised in dialogical forms, with each philosophical thesis answered by one or more historical case studies designed to support, complicate or question (...) it. The first part of the book examines the role of scientific theory and empirical fact in the growth of mathematical knowledge. The second examines the role of abstraction, analysis and axiomatization. The third raises the question of whether the growth of mathematical knowledge constitutes progress, and how progress may be understood. Readership: Students and scholars concerned with the history and philosophy of mathematics and the formal sciences. (shrink)

The commonly accepted interpretations ofFermat's method of extreme values tell us that this is a curious method, based on an approximate equality and burdened with several contradictions withinFermat's writings. In this article, both a philological approach taking into account that there is only one manuscript written inFermat's own handwriting and a mathematical approach taking into account that brilliant mathematicians usually are not so very confused when talking about their own central mathematical ideas are combined. A new hypothesis is put forward (...) which renders the mathematics clear and coherent and which does not need the assumption thatFermat was confused. Probably a number of words have been added byCarcavy in two ofFermat's papers. (shrink)

Which theories of Leibniz are still valid after post-modern critique? Using various methods, this work considers a new interpretation and views Leibniz's work from a different perspective. As such, the authors reconstruct Leibniz's viewpoints on tolerance and truth in light of his position and the influence of church politics. Furthermore, his strategy of differentiation between animal and human will be analyzed on its usefulness to current debate. Leibniz's theory of perception will also be contrasted to comparable theories of today. The (...) usual interpretations of his metaphysics based on substance will here be contrasted by a nature-based interpretation. German text. (shrink)

VI. International Leibniz-Congress to be held at the University of Hannover, 18-23 July, 1994: This is organized by the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Gesellschaft, the Leibniz Society of North America, the Sociedad Española Leibniz, and the Niedersächsische Landesbibliothek Hannover. The opening lecture will be given by Professor N. Rescher. The organizers invite all interested researchers, experts in the field, and friends to participate. Sectional contributions should be submitted by 15 December 1993. The texts of accepted contributions, bound and photocopied, will be available at the (...) opening of the Congress. The manuscripts to be reproduced must be submitted no later than 1 March 1994. Precise directions for the presentation of manuscripts will be sent to contributors following registration. The registration fee is 80.— DM. Copies of the sectional contributions will be included in the conference material. Queries should be directed to the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Gesellschaft, Niedersächsische Landes-bibliothek, Waterloostr. 8, D-30169 Hannover. (shrink)

VI. International Leibniz-Congress to be held at the University of Hannover, 18-23 July, 1994: This is organized by the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Gesellschaft, the Leibniz Society of North America, the Sociedad Española Leibniz, and the Niedersächsische Landesbibliothek Hannover. The opening lecture will be given by Professor N. Rescher. The organizers invite all interested researchers, experts in the field, and friends to participate. Sectional contributions should be submitted by 15 December 1993. The texts of accepted contributions, bound and photocopied, will be available at the (...) opening of the Congress. The manuscripts to be reproduced must be submitted no later than 1 March 1994. Precise directions for the presentation of manuscripts will be sent to contributors following registration. The registration fee is 80.— DM. Copies of the sectional contributions will be included in the conference material. Queries should be directed to the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Gesellschaft, Niedersächsische Landes-bibliothek, Waterloostr. 8, D-30169 Hannover. (shrink)

The VI. International Leibniz Congress was held at the University of Hannover, 18-23 July 1994. There were more than 300 participants from 26 countries. About 160 papers were given to the Congress. The opening lecture was given by Professor Nicholas Rescher. The Congress offered the opportunity of meeting Leibniz scholars from all over the world. The participants received the first volume of the papers. A second volume will appear soon. There are plans to give this second volume as a “Mitgliedsgabe” (...) to the members of the Leibniz-Gesellschaft. (shrink)

It is not known, when H. Brand, the discoverer of phosphorus, died; until now we have only known that he was still alive in 1692. In the following article a letter from Brand to Leibniz written in 1698 is published; two more letters to Leibniz written in 1699 mentioning Brand are also quoted. In addition a manuscript by Leibniz concerning the discovery of phosphorus is published, which helps to settle the question of when phosphorus was discovered.