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Vorlesungen über Geschichte der Mathematik, von Moritz Cantor: Dritter Band

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

George A. Gibson
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The gigantic task which Mr Cantor has undertaken in writing a history of mathematics down to the year 1759 is approaching its accomplishment, the first two of the three parts forming the third and concluding volume being now published. How great is the debt of gratitude that the mathematical public owe to him for the erudition and thoroughness he has brought to bear on the work, only those can guess who have attempted to follow out some line of historical investigation. His history is totally different from a catalogue of authors and their works; it enables us to trace clearly the lines of development of mathematical knowledge and shows with wonderful skill not only the contributions made by the creators of the science but the conditions and materials that made these possible. The fact that the greatest mathematicians recognise that they obtained their position because “they stood on the shoulders of great men” does not in the least detract from their merits but is an abiding augury for future developments.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society , Volume 14 , February 1895 , pp. 148 - 174
Copyright
Copyright © Edinburgh Mathematical Society 1895

References

* The statement on p. 65 that the binomial theorem was engraved on Newton's tombstone seems to be a mistake.

† Aecording to Mr Cantor we should write Leibniz.

* MrCantor's, phrase (p. 151) “perhaps also negative” is not justifiable.Google Scholar

* When Newton makes the substitutions l—x, c–x for x (Opuse. I. 69) he omits to change the sign of x; but see Opuse. I., pp. 84–5.Google Scholar

* In this work, Methodus figurarum … quadratvras dckrminandi, the binomial theorem appeared in print for the first time.

* De Morgan says Burnet was a son of the Bishop and a pupil of Craig, John (Phil. Mag. [4 S] IV., p. 325, Note † (1852).Google Scholar

† Mr Cantor has misunderstood the last clause of the Latin version of the Report; it obviously means, “as also whatever else fit for elucidating this history might occur in the A.E.“