Comments on: (1) Sir Isaac Newton vs. (16) Gottfried Leibniz

By: Douglas J. Bender

Douglas J. Bender — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:31:55 +0000

There is no question that Newton discovered/invented Calculus before Leibniz, by nearly 10 years. And it appears that Leibniz very well could have become aware of Newton’s yet-unpublished work on the Calculus prior to developing his own version. We do know that when Leibniz actually published his work on Calculus, he was aware that Newton had also been working on the same topic, but gave no mention of Newton.

Basically, it appears that Leibniz WAS at least somewhat dishonest and dishonorable with respect to Newton. Which would at least somewhat justify Newton’s anger towards him.

In any case, Newton’s contributions to optics, physics, and mathematics outstrip anything Leibniz contributed. And Newton preceded Leibniz by nearly 10 years in developing Calculus. So, Newton.

By: Gary geck

Gary geck — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:44:19 +0000

If you read the Leibniz-Clarke exchange, it becomes clear that Leibniz’s universe was at least consistent while Newton seems to embody contradiction in every way. Yet it was Newton who took great joy late in life for breaking Leibniz and ruining him so in a sense Newton won. Had Newton not written the royal society’s conclusion himself finding Leibniz to be a fraud, perhaps Leibniz would have been appointed to a high position in England instead of dying like a theif. Newton wins the dirty scoundrel award any day.

By: Me

Me — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:13:00 +0000

I have to say I’m with Leibniz here. Newton was really good at ruining the lives of other scientists he thought were threats, like Leibniz. Also, I’m much happier doing caluculas with Leibniz’s notation and not Newton’s.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:02:00 +0000

I know this is all in fun, but it’s hard to legitimize any bracket that has Leibniz as the 16 and the RZA as the 13. You guys are phoning this in.

By: Marcus Brute

Marcus Brute — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Newton’s going to sweep the tournament. He’s the greatest genius who ever lived, no question. Basically, he single-handedly invented physics.

By: Sarah in CA

Sarah in CA — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:41:00 +0000

There is no option to vote… it just shows the results.

By: Zach

Zach — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:23:00 +0000

I voted Leibniz, since I am more a philosopher than a scientist. Just so we know, Leibniz was a believer as well, and wrote about the Big Guy plenty.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:34:00 +0000

Newton (in my opinion) had a much bigger impact on science than Leibniz. But Newton’s infatuation with alchemy, magic, and his fanatical religious fervor always left a bitter taste in my mouth. So I voted Gottfried as the more “pure” scientist.

By: Karl

Karl — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:11:00 +0000

Both of them are great scientists. Newton with his theories of gravity & light & Leibniz with his calculus & philosophical stand for God.