1.9 Introduction to the Famous Scientists
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1.9 Introduction to the Famous Scientists
Descartes (René, 1596.3.31–1650.2.11) French philosopher, mathematician, physicist and physiologist, one of the founders analytic geometry. Born in La Haye en
Touraine, died in Stockholm, Swedish Empire. Attended the Université de Poitiers
in Paris to study law in 1612, received a doctor’s degree in 1616. Joined the army in
1617. Return to Paris in 1625. Moved to the Netherlands in 1628, studied with great
concentration mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, physics, chemistry and physiology etc. many other fields, dedicated himself to write more than 20 years. His
contribution was various, especially in mathematics was known as the creation of
analytic geometry, representative work was La Géométrie. Also played an important role in the creation of calculus. In philosophy, created the methodology and
epistemology that attach importance to the scientific understanding, became one of
the founders of modern western philosophy. Proposed the philosophy principle of
“Cogito ergo sum” (Je pense, donc je suis; I think, therefore I am), wrote the philosophical work Discours de la méthode, rear there were three famous appendices: La
Dioptrique, Les météores and La Géométrie (1637).
Leibniz (Gottfried Wilhelm, 1646.7.1–1716.11.14) German mathematician, physicists and philosophers, etc., The founder of mathematical logic. Born in Leipzig,
died in Hanover. In 1661 to study law at the University of Leipzig, once again
to study geometry at the University of Jena. In 1666, received his doctor’s degree
in law. Was elected the member of the Royal Society in 1673. Took the director
of Hannover library in 1676. Was elected the member of the French Academy of
Sciences in 1700, and set up the Berlin Academy of Sciences and was the first
president. Research field involved many aspects, such as the logic, mathematics,
mechanics, geology, law, history, linguistics, biology, diplomacy and theology etc.
Made the multiplication calculator, regarded as a pioneer of the modern machine
mathematics. Discovered the law of conservation of mechanical energy in 1693. Was
called the founders of calculus together with Newton. Systematically expounded the
binary notation, and related it with China’s Eight Trigrams. In philosophy aspect,
the work had Monadologie (1714), it contained the factors of dialectics.
Taylor (Brook, 1685.8.18–1731.12.29) British mathematician, philosopher. Born in
Edmonton, died in London. Received his doctor’s degree in law at the university of
Cambridge in 1709. Was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1712, from 1714 to
1718 served as the secretary of the society. Was intimate friends of Halley (Edmund,
1656.10.29–1742.1.14) and Newton. In mathematics, mainly engaged in the study of
function properties, published the book Methodus Incrementorum Directa et Inversa
in 1715, published in the book to expand the function into a general formula of the
series, this series was later called the Taylor series. Also study some principles of
the interpolation method, study the vibration problem of string, the determination
of differential equation of optical path problem by this kind of calculation method,
etc. Was also very talented in music and painting. Had used the geometry method
75
1.9 Introduction to the Famous Scientists
Descartes (René, 1596.3.31–1650.2.11) French philosopher, mathematician, physicist and physiologist, one of the founders analytic geometry. Born in La Haye en
Touraine, died in Stockholm, Swedish Empire. Attended the Université de Poitiers
in Paris to study law in 1612, received a doctor’s degree in 1616. Joined the army in
1617. Return to Paris in 1625. Moved to the Netherlands in 1628, studied with great
concentration mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, physics, chemistry and physiology etc. many other fields, dedicated himself to write more than 20 years. His
contribution was various, especially in mathematics was known as the creation of
analytic geometry, representative work was La Géométrie. Also played an important role in the creation of calculus. In philosophy, created the methodology and
epistemology that attach importance to the scientific understanding, became one of
the founders of modern western philosophy. Proposed the philosophy principle of
“Cogito ergo sum” (Je pense, donc je suis; I think, therefore I am), wrote the philosophical work Discours de la méthode, rear there were three famous appendices: La
Dioptrique, Les météores and La Géométrie (1637).
Leibniz (Gottfried Wilhelm, 1646.7.1–1716.11.14) German mathematician, physicists and philosophers, etc., The founder of mathematical logic. Born in Leipzig,
died in Hanover. In 1661 to study law at the University of Leipzig, once again
to study geometry at the University of Jena. In 1666, received his doctor’s degree
in law. Was elected the member of the Royal Society in 1673. Took the director
of Hannover library in 1676. Was elected the member of the French Academy of
Sciences in 1700, and set up the Berlin Academy of Sciences and was the first
president. Research field involved many aspects, such as the logic, mathematics,
mechanics, geology, law, history, linguistics, biology, diplomacy and theology etc.
Made the multiplication calculator, regarded as a pioneer of the modern machine
mathematics. Discovered the law of conservation of mechanical energy in 1693. Was
called the founders of calculus together with Newton. Systematically expounded the
binary notation, and related it with China’s Eight Trigrams. In philosophy aspect,
the work had Monadologie (1714), it contained the factors of dialectics.
Taylor (Brook, 1685.8.18–1731.12.29) British mathematician, philosopher. Born in
Edmonton, died in London. Received his doctor’s degree in law at the university of
Cambridge in 1709. Was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1712, from 1714 to
1718 served as the secretary of the society. Was intimate friends of Halley (Edmund,
1656.10.29–1742.1.14) and Newton. In mathematics, mainly engaged in the study of
function properties, published the book Methodus Incrementorum Directa et Inversa
in 1715, published in the book to expand the function into a general formula of the
series, this series was later called the Taylor series. Also study some principles of
the interpolation method, study the vibration problem of string, the determination
of differential equation of optical path problem by this kind of calculation method,
etc. Was also very talented in music and painting. Had used the geometry method