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300 Jahre ”Nova Methodus” von G. W. Leibniz (1684-1984). (300 years of ”Nova Methodus” of G. W. Leibniz (1684-1984)). Symposion der Leibniz- Gesellschaft im Congresscentrum ”Leewenhorst” in Noordwijkerhout (Niederlande), 28. bis 30. August 1984. (German) Zbl 0601.01011

Studia Leibnitiana. Sonderheft 14. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden GmbH. XVI, 268 S. DM 58.00 (1986).
This utmost valuable and interesting volume consists of nineteen articles besides of the very useful introduction. They can be divided into three groups: 1. The first group deals with the prehistory of Leibniz’ famous paper ”New method etc.” published in 1684 for the first time. 2. The second group concerns the ”Nova methodus” and the further development of the infinitesimal calculus which is due to Leibniz. 3. The third group concerns the history of reception of the ”New method etc.”.
The following articles belong to the first group: J. A. v. Maanen’s discussion of mathematics in the Netherlands during the 17th century and their role in the history of the development of the infinitesimal calculus; K. Andersen’s article on the method of indivisibles and its changing understandings; E. Giusti’s contribution on the tangent problems from Descartes up to Leibniz.
Eight articles can be numbered among the second group: H.-J. Hess’ comparison between the ”New method etc.” and some hitherto unpublished earlier manuscripts; H. J. M. Bos’: Fundamental concepts of the Leibnizian calculus; H. Breger: Leibniz’ introduction of transcendent quantities; E. J. Aiton: The application of the infinitesimal calculus to some physical problems by Leibniz and his friends; H. Freudenthal: On the continuity principle of Leibniz; L. Feigenbaum: Leibniz and the Taylor series; Y. Belaval: The role of the new method within Leibniz’ system; A. Robinet: Philosophical sense and role of the ”speciosa”: the symbolism of the differential and integral calculus.
Also eight articles form the third group: St. B. Engelsmann: Orthogonal trajectories in the priority dispute between Leibniz and Newton; G. M. Ross: Leibniz and de Volder on the infinitely small in metaphysics; B. P. Vermeulen: The metaphysical presuppositions of Nieuwentijt’s criticism of Leibniz’ higher-order differentials; W. Breidert: Berkeley’s criticism of the infinitesimal calculus; L. Pepe: The Italian mathematicians and the infinitesimal calculus at the beginning of the 18th century; M. Petry: The early reception of the calculus in the Netherlands; D. Laugwitz: The further development of Leibniz’ concepts and methods by Leonhard Euler; A. P. de Laborda: A comparison between Newton’s calculus of fluxions and Leibniz’ infinitesimal calculus.
Reviewer: E.Knobloch

MSC:

01A45 History of mathematics in the 17th century
26-03 History of real functions
01-02 Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to history and biography
01-06 Proceedings, conferences, collections, etc. pertaining to history and biography
00Bxx Conference proceedings and collections of articles

Biographic References:

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm