Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

“We perceive things in three ways: through experience, through reasoning, and through a representation.” (Leibniz, Gottfried and Robert C. Sleigh, Jr. (Translator). Confessio Philosophi. 1671–1678). Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz learned and taught by this principle. Known as the last “universal genius”, Leibniz made astounding leaps in fields of study such as mathematics, metaphysics, geology, logic and philosophy, along with many others. Leibniz was highly respected by many and even though their views did not coincide they could not help being amazed by his achievements. (Brandon C. Look, 2007) “When one compares the talents one has with those of a Leibniz, one is tempted to throw away one's books and go die quietly in the dark of some forgotten corner.” (Oeuvres complètes, vol. 7, p. 678).
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born to a highly educated family on July 1, 1646 in Leipzig. Leibniz’s father, Friedrich Leibniz, was a professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Leipzig and Catharina Schmuck, his mother, was the daughter of a professor of law. With the event of his father’s death, Leibniz was guided by his mother and uncle in his studies. He was also given access to the contents of his father’s library. In 1661 Leibniz began his formal university education at the University of Leipzig. While attending the university he soon met Jacob Thomasius. Thomasius instilled in Leibniz a great respect for ancient and medieval philosophy. After accepting his baccalaureate from Leipzig, Leibniz began studying at the University of Altdorf. While in attendance at Altdorf, Leibniz published Dissertation on the Art of Combinations (Dissertatio de arte combinatoria) in 1666 (Brandon C. Look, 2007). It sketched a plan for a “universal cha...

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...use many of his concepts and ideas today, such as the law of conservation of matter and the calculus concept of dy/dx. Leibniz sought after knowledge and gave the world many new and innovative ways to think. Through his advancements in mathematics, many other fields of study took root and thrived. Leibniz died November 14, 1716. His contributions to society brought about a new way of thinking and challenged what the world knew.

Works Cited

Look, B. (2007, December 22). Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Stanford University. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz/

Youpa, A. (2004, August 26). Leibniz’s Ethics. Stanford University. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz-ethics/

No. 1375: Newton Vs. Leibniz. (n.d). No. 1375: Newton Vs. Leibniz. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1375.htm