LEIBNITZ, GOTTFRIED WILHELM

(1646-1716), Ger. scholar and thinker; b. at Leipzig; entered univ. there, 1661. As a boy he had studied cla ics, as a student, philosophy, then math’s and law, early showing his genius. He became acquainted with the Elector of Mainz and became interested in politics, suggesting a Fr. expedition to Egypt. Meanwhile he became busy with math’s and mechanical science, and speculated in theol. and law. He invented a calculating machine and discovered the differential and integral calculus. In 1676 he entered the service of the Duke: ‘(afterwards Elector) of Hanover. L. formed schemes for uniting Catholicism and Protestant ism, and this failing, tried to unite Luther ans and Calvinists. He continued his studies in many fields, especially economics, politics, and history. He collected hist. sources and began a history of Brunswick. Most of his philosophical work was done after 1690. In 1690 he pub. his E ais de Theodicee sur la bonte de Dieu la liberte greatest of his philosophical works, and in 1714 La Monad a logie and Principes de la nature et de la grace; latterly, he devoted much time to correspondence,