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Descartes's Secret Notebook

By Aczel, Amir D.

Descartes's Secret Notebook

By Aczel, Amir D.

Only 1 item left in stock
Description
René Descartes (1596-1650) is one of the towering and central figures in Western philosophy and mathematics. His apothegm "Cogito, ergo sum” marked the birth of the mind-body problem, while his creation of so-called Cartesian coordinates have made our physical and intellectual conquest of physical space possible. But Descartes had a mysterious and mystical side, as well. Almost certainly a member of the occult brotherhood of the Rosicrucians, he kept a secret notebook, now lost, most of which was written in code. After Descartes's death, Gottfried Leibniz, inventor of calculus and one of the greatest mathematicians in history, moved to Paris in search of this notebook—and eventually found it in the possession of Claude Clerselier, a friend of Descartes. Leibniz called on Clerselier and was allowed to copy only a couple of pages—which, though written in code, he amazingly deciphered there on the spot. Leibniz's hastily scribbled notes are all we have today of Descartes's notebook, which has disappeared. Why did Descartes keep a secret notebook, and what were its contents? The answers to these questions lead Amir Aczel and the reader on an exciting, swashbuckling journey, and offer a fascinating look at one of the great figures of Western culture.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Edition:
illustrated
Number of Pages:
290
Release Date:
2006-10-10
Publication Date:
2006-10-10
Publisher:
The Crown Publishing Group
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
0767920341
ISBN13:
9780767920346
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
326 g
Height:
132 cm
Width:
203 cm
Thickness:
16 cm
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The items bear minimal signs of past use, such as light scratches or memories in the form of markings. These signs of wear give the items a charming character and tell stories of their previous owners, while not affecting their functionality.
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