Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz are two of the most supreme intellects of
the 17th
century. They are both considered to be the inventors of Calculus. However, after a
terrible dispute, Sir
Isaac Newton took most of the credit.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German philosopher, mathematician, and
statesman
born in the country of Leipzig. He received his education at the universities of
Leipzig, Jena, and Altdorf.
He received a doctorate in law. He devoted much of his time to the principle studies of
mathematics, science,
and philosophy.
Leibniz's contribution in mathematics was in the year 1675, when he discovered the
fundamental
principles of infinitesimal calculus. He arrived at this discovery independently at the
same time along with
the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. However, Leibniz's system was published
in 1684, three
years before Newton published his. Also at this time Leibniz's method of notation,
known as mathematical
symbols, were adopted universally. He also contributed in 1672 by inventing a
calculating machine that was
capable of multiplying, dividing, and extracting square roots. All this made him to be
considered a pioneer in
the developement of mathematical logic.
Sir Isaac Newton is the other major figure in the development of Calculus. He was an
English
mathemetician and physcist, whose considered to be one of the greatest scientists in
history. Newton was
born on December 25, 1642 at Woolsthorpe, near Grantham in Lincolnshire. He attended
Trinity College, at
the University of Cambridge. He received his bachelor's degree in 1665 and received his
master's degree in
1668. However, there he ignored much of the universities established curriculum to
pursue his own interests:
mathematics and natural philosophy. Almost immediately, he made fundamental discoveries
in both areas.
Newtons dicoveries was made up of several different things. It consisted of combined
infinite sums
which are known as infinite series. It also consisted of the binomial theorem for
frational exponents and the
algebraic expression of the inverse relation between tangents and areas into methods that
we refer to today as
calculus.
However, the story is not that simple. Being that both men were so-called universal
geniuses, they
realized that in different ways they were entitled to have the credit for "inventing
calculus". Both engaged in
a violent dispute over priority in the invention of calculus. Unfortunately, Newton had
the upper hand,
considering that he was the president of the Royal Society. He used this position to to
select a committee that
would investigate the unsolved question. Apparently, Newton included himself on this
committee (illegally)
and submitted a false report that charged Leibniz with deliberate plagiarism. He was
also the one who
compiled the book of evidence that the "society" was supposed to publish.
In my opinion, I believe that Leibniz was entitled to the credit more than Newton was.
For one,
the phrase "First come, First serve". I also think that anyone who has to go about
getting things in a
scandulous way doesn't deserve any recognition at all. Consequently, because of
Newton's sneaky actions he
got the glamour he wanted. For example, when I was doing my research I read where they
haad distinctively
put Newton before Leibniz by using the phrase "respectively". In conclusion, I believe
that over the years
credit has been given to the wrong person.
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