The Peculiar Destiny of Sentiment de Monsieur Leibnitz (May 1705 -- March 1706)

Abstract

During the querelle des infiniment petits, Leibniz wrote several texts to justify using Differential calculus among Parisian savants. However, only three were published. Among these publications, ''Sentiment de Monsieur Leibnitz'' had a peculiar destiny. Although we are aware of the manuscript (Gotha FB A 448--449, Bl. 41--42), it is only recently that we have identified a copy of its impression in the British Library catalogue. This copy was printed in 1706 together with writings by other mathematicians united in the defence of the new calculus -- Joseph Saurin, Jacob Hermann and the Bernoulli brothers. Recently published epistolary exchanges indicate that Jean-Paul Bignon, at the time director of the Royal Academy of Sciences, in order to calm down the institution, had prohibited this publication and confiscated the prints.This article examine the epistemological and institutional issues at stake in ''Sentiment de Monsieur Leibnitz''.