Jacob

Jacob — marelibri

's GRAVESANDE, William-James [Willem Jacob] (1688-1742).ABAA

The Elements of Universal Mathematics or Algebra: to which is added a specimen of a commentary on Sir Isaac Newton’s Useful Arithmetic.

1728réf. SRW1708London:: John Senex 1728. 1728. 8vo. iv 187 1 pp. 4 folding plates decorative headpieces. Original gilt-stamped calf modern red leather gilt-stamped spine label raised bands; spine mended rubbed. Ownership stamp of “P.G.” Very good. RARE. First edition in English; first printed in Leiden in 1727 as Matheseos universalis elementa. The text seeks to systematically clarify Newton. / “This work translated into Dutch 1728 and English 1752 sic is of didactic rather than original merit but it was significant for its invitation to mathematicians to elucidate systematically Newton’s Universal Arithmetick which ‘s Gravesande exemplified by his own explanation of two passages from Newton’s book. ‘s Gravesande found the lighthearted treatment of infinitesimals and the infinite in Bernard de Fontenelle’s Elemens de la geometrie de l’infini Paris 1727 unacceptable and he maintained his objections in the Journal litteraire against Fontenelle’s rejoinder 1730.” – DSB V p. 510. / Jip van Besouw has argued that it is widely believed that ‘s Gravesande had met Newton resulting in an appointment for the same at Leiden University. Rather says van Besouw “. . . ‘s Gravesande’s appointment resulted from a very carefully built up reputation in scholarly circles rather than from accidental meetings and patronage. ‘s Gravesande had written several innovative papers and was in contact with both leading mathematicians and local political and patrician figures already before 1715.” – The impeccable credentials of an untrained philosopher: Willem Jacob ‘s Gravesande’s career before his Leiden professorship 1688–1717. Notes Rec. 2016 70 3: 231–249. REFERENCES: ESTC no.: T187811; not in Babson. John Senex, 1728. hardcover books