Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German scholar of both philosophy and mathematics. He is best remembered for having developed a system of both integral and differential calculus independently of Isaac Newton. In addition to mathematics, also holds a position of prominence in the history of philosophy, most noted for his views on optimism. Optimism meant that he believed that our universe is the best one that a greater being could have possibly created. Leibniz advocated rationalism and his work was a precursor to modern logic and analytic philosophy. Leibniz also contributed to the fields of physics, biology, technology, and probability theory.