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Transcendental Curves in the Leibnizian Calculus analyzes a mathematical and philosophical conflict between classical and early modern mathematics. In the late 17th century,… Read more
ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
Up to 25% off Essentials Robotics and Automation titles
Transcendental Curves in the Leibnizian Calculus analyzes a mathematical and philosophical conflict between classical and early modern mathematics. In the late 17th century, mathematics was at the brink of an identity crisis. For millennia, mathematical meaning and ontology had been anchored in geometrical constructions, as epitomized by Euclid's ruler and compass.
As late as 1637, Descartes had placed himself squarely in this tradition when he justified his new technique of identifying curves with equations by means of certain curve-tracing instruments, thereby bringing together the ancient constructive tradition and modern algebraic methods in a satisfying marriage. But rapid advances in the new fields of infinitesimal calculus and mathematical mechanics soon ruined his grand synthesis.
Descartes's scheme left out transcendental curves, i.e. curves with no polynomial equation, but in the course of these subsequent developments such curves emerged as indispensable. It was becoming harder and harder to juggle cutting-edge mathematics and ancient conceptions of its foundations at the same time, yet leading mathematicians, such as Leibniz felt compelled to do precisely this. The new mathematics fit more naturally an analytical conception of curves than a construction-based one, yet no one wanted to betray the latter, as this was seen as virtually tantamount to stop doing mathematics altogether. The credibility and authority of mathematics depended on it.
PhD students and tenured mathematicians and historians of mathematics with an interest in the early history of calculus and geometry. Leibniz scholars will naturally be most attracted to the content
Chapter 1: Preliminary matters
Chapter 2: Introduction
Chapter 3: The classical basis of 17th-century philosophy of mathematics
Chapter 4: Mathematical context
Chapter 5: Transcendental curves by curve tracing
Chapter 6: Transcendental curves analytically: exponentials and power series
Chapter 7: Transcendental curves by the reduction of quadratures
Chapter 8: Transcendental curves in physics
Chapter 9: A view from the 18th century
Chapter 10: Concluding overview
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