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The Calculus Wars: Newton, Leibniz, and the Greatest Mathematical Clash of All Time.


THE CALCULUS calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value.  WARS: Newton, Leibniz, and the Greatest Mathematical Clash of All Time

JASON Jason, in Greek mythology
Jason, in Greek mythology, son of Aeson. When Pelias usurped the throne of Iolcus and killed (or imprisoned) Aeson and most of his descendants, Jason was smuggled off to the centaur Chiron, who reared him secretly on Mt. Pelion.
 SOCRATES Socrates (sŏk`rətēz), 469–399 B.C., Greek philosopher of Athens. Famous for his view of philosophy as a pursuit proper and necessary to all intelligent men, he is one of the great examples of a man who lived by his principles even  BARDI Bardi can refer to:
  • Bardi, Italy, a city in the province of Parma, northern Italy
  • Bardi bush, an Australian plant, Acacia victoriae
  • Bardi (folklore), a shape-changing spirit or a rabid animal in Trebizond folklore who presages a death by wailing
 

Historians regard Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz as two of the greatest scientific thinkers in history. Both are revered for their monumental advances in mathematics and physics. Few people know, however, of the bitter dispute between these two men over the intellectual ownership of calculus, the mathematics that describes bodies in motion. Today, Newton and Leibniz get equal credit for inventing the field, but during the late 17th century, neither was willing to give the other any credit for the work. Science writer Bardi tells the tale of the public, private, and lifelong feud feud, formalized private warfare, especially between family groups. The blood feud (see vendetta) is characteristic of those societies in which central government either has not arisen or has decayed. . it's clear that Newton created calculus in 1666 but kept his invention secret. Leibniz independently created calculus in 1675 and then published his work in two papers, which catapulted him to fame in Europe. Bardi describes how Newton accused Leibniz of stealing his ideas, to which Leibniz responded with his own attacks. The war lasted many years. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006, 277 p., hardcover, $25.00.
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Publication:Science News
Article Type:Book review
Date:Jun 24, 2006
Words:177
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