Vickers, Peter (2007) Was the Early Calculus an Inconsistent Theory? [Preprint]

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Abstract

The ubiquitous assertion that the early calculus of Newton and Leibniz was an inconsistent theory is examined. Two different objects of a possible inconsistency claim are distinguished: (i) the calculus as an algorithm; (ii) proposed explanations of the moves made within the algorithm. In the first case the calculus can be interpreted as a theory in something like the logician’s sense, whereas in the second case it acts more like a scientific theory. I find no inconsistency in the first case, and an inconsistency in the second case which can only be imputed to a small minority of the relevant community.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Vickers, Peter
Keywords:	calculus, fluxions, infinitesimals, newton, leibniz, inconsistent
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Depositing User:	Dr Peter Vickers
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2007
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:15
Item ID:	3477
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Date:	August 2007
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3477

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