Calculus

Melvyn Bragg hosts a discussion on the history of calculus and the dispute between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz over its invention, featuring Simon Schaffer, Patricia Fara, and Jackie Stedall. The panel explores Leibniz's background and his vision for mathematics as a tool for agreement, as well as Newton's approach to calculus in the context of his work on gravity. They discuss the differences in their methodologies, with Leibniz focusing on infinitesimally small slices and Newton on rates of change, and the role of geometry versus algebra in their approaches. The conversation also covers the philosophical and political dimensions of the dispute, including differing views on God and governance, and concludes with a reflection on how the conflict may have impacted the progress of mathematics.