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Descartes's Secret Notebook: A True Tale of Mathematics, Mysticism, and the Quest to Understand the Universe
by Aczel, Amir D
- Used
- Good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Good/Good
- ISBN 10
- 0767920333
- ISBN 13
- 9780767920339
- Seller
-
Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Broadway, 2005. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Good/Good. 6x1x9. Has some light general reading/shelfwear - otherwise this is a clean, tight copy. Quick dispatch from the UK.
Synopsis
Rene Descartes (1596--1650) is one of the towering and central figures in Western philosophy and mathematics. His apothegm "Cogito, ergo sum" marked the birth of the mind-body problem, while his creation of so-called Cartesian coordinates has made our intellectual conquest of physical space possible.But Descartes had a mysterious and mystical side, as well. Almost certainly a member of the occult brotherhood of the Rosicrucians, he kept a secret notebook, now lost, most of which was written in code. After Descartes's death, Gottfried Leibniz, inventor of calculus and one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, moved to Paris in search of this notebook--and eventually found it in the possession of Claude Clerselier, a friend of Descartes's. Liebniz called on Clerselier and was allowed to copy only a couple of pages--which, though written in code, he amazingly deciphered there on the spot. Liebniz's hastily scribbled notes are all we have today of Descartes's notebook.Why did Descartes keep a secret notebook, and what were its contents? The answers to these questions will lead the reader on an exciting, swashbuckling journey, and offer a fascinating look at one of the great figures of Western culture.From the Hardcover edition.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Seagull Books
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 081059
- Title
- Descartes's Secret Notebook: A True Tale of Mathematics, Mysticism, and the Quest to Understand the Universe
- Author
- Aczel, Amir D
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- ISBN 10
- 0767920333
- ISBN 13
- 9780767920339
- Publisher
- Broadway
- Place of Publication
- New York, New York, U.s.a.
- Date Published
- 2005
- Size
- 6x1x9
- X weight
- 19 oz
Terms of Sale
Seagull Books
All orders will be dispatched within 1 working day of purchase, and often on the same day. If a book does not meet a customer\'s expectations, then a full refund, including outgoing P&P, will be offered upon return of the item. Refunds for any other reason will be processed minus the outgoing P&P. The quality descriptions we use match those that are found on Amazon e.g. Like New, Very Good, Good and Acceptable. In most cases, we have also added more detailed comments ourselves about the condition of a particular book.
About the Seller
Seagull Books
Biblio member since 2005
Hove, East Sussex
About Seagull Books
Originally started as an amateur venture, Seagull Books has quickly grown into a knowledgable and reputable on-line book vendor. Our inventory is growing all the time, and we are constantly updating our stock with the latest finds. We specialise in out-of-print books - particularly paperbacks - and never cease to be amazed at what is no longer considered worth publishing! Many of our customers clearly share that view.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
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