What do you think?
Rate this book
Past Masters (Oxford)
Leibniz
Though best known as a philosopher, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a polymath with many facets to his genius. Besides providing the most detailed account of his life availale in English, George MacDonald Ross puts Leibniz's philosophical ideas into perspective by examining them in the light of his work as an alchemist, librarian, diplomat, mining engineer, and historian.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 1984
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 22, 2025
Surprisingly dull... was hoping this would cover more of his mathematical work.
March 2, 2019
This is a wonderful biography on Leibniz. It is brief, thorough, and unrivaled in clarity. Ross is sensitive to the historical contexts of Leibniz’s work, both in terms of his relation to intellectual forebears and of contemporary appropriations of his thought.
In the opening chapter, Ross offers a sketch Leibniz’s life, demonstrating the extent to which Leibniz’s contributions in numerous disciplines set him apart as something of a virtuoso. Ross also includes some details about Leibniz’s personal character and his interactions with other major intellectual figures and institutions (Newton, The Royal Society of London, Duke Johann Friedrich, etc.).
Though his contributions as a mathematician, theoretical scientist, linguist, translator, statesman, theologian, and engineer (among other things) are indicative of Leibniz’s extraordinary genius, he was a controversial figure among his peers. Suspected of being both a crypto-Catholic because of his association with “Papists and Jesuits” and an atheist since he did not go to church, it is evident that Leibniz rarely felt at home among his own countrymen. Also, some suspected Leibniz’s developments in infinitesimal calculus were mere plagiarisms of Newton; however, Ross demonstrates the independence of Leibniz’s work and how Leibniz only confirmed the similarity of their projects upon reading Newton’s “Principles of Mathematical Philosophy” in 1689.
He also had deep admiration and stinging criticism for both Scholasticism and Moderns, seeking to steer a middle position that recognized merits of both and avoided perceived faults.
Leibniz was prone to begin a number of projects that ended in failure or that failed to ever see completion. He was concerned to have multiple testimonies to his own genius. “Leibniz’s life was dominated by an unachievable ambition to excel in every sphere of intellectual and political activity. The wonder is not that he failed so often, but that he achieved as much as he did” (Ross, 26).
This is as fine an intellectual biography as one will ever find for 117 pages. I highly recommend it.
In the opening chapter, Ross offers a sketch Leibniz’s life, demonstrating the extent to which Leibniz’s contributions in numerous disciplines set him apart as something of a virtuoso. Ross also includes some details about Leibniz’s personal character and his interactions with other major intellectual figures and institutions (Newton, The Royal Society of London, Duke Johann Friedrich, etc.).
Though his contributions as a mathematician, theoretical scientist, linguist, translator, statesman, theologian, and engineer (among other things) are indicative of Leibniz’s extraordinary genius, he was a controversial figure among his peers. Suspected of being both a crypto-Catholic because of his association with “Papists and Jesuits” and an atheist since he did not go to church, it is evident that Leibniz rarely felt at home among his own countrymen. Also, some suspected Leibniz’s developments in infinitesimal calculus were mere plagiarisms of Newton; however, Ross demonstrates the independence of Leibniz’s work and how Leibniz only confirmed the similarity of their projects upon reading Newton’s “Principles of Mathematical Philosophy” in 1689.
He also had deep admiration and stinging criticism for both Scholasticism and Moderns, seeking to steer a middle position that recognized merits of both and avoided perceived faults.
Leibniz was prone to begin a number of projects that ended in failure or that failed to ever see completion. He was concerned to have multiple testimonies to his own genius. “Leibniz’s life was dominated by an unachievable ambition to excel in every sphere of intellectual and political activity. The wonder is not that he failed so often, but that he achieved as much as he did” (Ross, 26).
This is as fine an intellectual biography as one will ever find for 117 pages. I highly recommend it.
March 13, 2025
After reading Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, I wanted to read more about Leibinz. The first half of this book was just what I was looking for. The second half discussions of philosophy, metaphysics, and religion I skimmed.
December 1, 2020
2.5 stars
October 9, 2017
Overall a good resume of the Works and life of Leibniz. In some parts there are gaps and even the odd inaccuracy borne out of not fully understanding the works of the great man.
In the main, though, one of the most concise and thorough books on Leibniz. And it does identify him as the great Philosopher, Mathematician, and the last great polymath. He was undoubtedly a Pythagorean and Platonist in his views. As suggested though ( I do not see any difference in view to Pythagoras). Make your own mind up, read the book!
In the main, though, one of the most concise and thorough books on Leibniz. And it does identify him as the great Philosopher, Mathematician, and the last great polymath. He was undoubtedly a Pythagorean and Platonist in his views. As suggested though ( I do not see any difference in view to Pythagoras). Make your own mind up, read the book!
April 27, 2012
Fairly good introduction to the startling ideas of the great German Polymath. From practical and innovative mechanical inventions to the flights to the highest skies of Mathematics and Metaphysics, Leibniz is the man that brought Calculus about (with Newton ?!) and monadology, the fascinating theory that (may) implicates the uniformity of the Universe and sharing consciousness of animated and inanimated things; revolutionary.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews