Leibniz or Leibnitz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Baron von

Leibniz or Leibnitz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Baron von (both: gôt'frēt vil'helm bärôn' fan līp'nits) [key], 1646–1716, German philosopher and mathematician, b. Leipzig. Although known primarily as a philosopher, Leibniz's scholarship embraced the physical sciences, history, law, diplomacy, and logic. The recognition of his work in logic came quite late; manuscripts published in the 20th cent. mark him as the founder of symbolic logic.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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