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Mathematical Treasure: Weigel’s Philosophy of Mathematics

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

Erhard Weigel (1625-1699) was a German mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. He taught at Jena University, where Leibniz was his student in 1663. Weigel was considered a popularizer of mathematics. His Philosophy of Mathematics (1693) was unique for its time.

Title page for Erhard Weigel's 1693 Philosophy of Mathematics.

The frontispiece of this book is both imaginative and mystical. A grandfatherly God peers down from heaven while numbers rain down on his left side and regular solids on the right.

Frontispiece for Erhard Weigel's 1693 Philosophy of Mathematics.

The images above are presented courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Weigel’s Philosophy of Mathematics," Convergence (August 2016)