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Seduced By Logic : Emile Du Chatelet Mary Somerville And Thenewtonian Revolution
Paperback Edition: 1
From the acclaimed author of Einstein's Heroes, comes the gripping story of two of the most glamorous and influential women of mathematics.
Issac Newton's Principia changed forever humanity's understanding of its place in the universe - not with the traditional tools of theology or philosophy but with the seductive logic of mathematics. But it was feisty French aristocratic milie du Chtelet who played a key role in bring Newton's revolutionary opus to a Continental audience.
Together with her lover Voltaire, milie - a largely self taught scholar - personified the exciting mix of science, literature, politics and philosophy that defined the Enlightenment. A century later, In Scotland, Mary Somerville taught herself mathematics and rose from genteel poverty to become a world authority on Newtonian physics.
Mary's many books, and her charm, made her a legend in her own lifetime. Connected by their passion for mathematics, Mary and milie bring to life a defining period in science and politics, revealing the intimate links between the unfolding Newtonian revolution and the origins of intellectual and political liberty.
Seduced by Logic is a thrilling foray into the lives of these extraordinary women - and the fascinating ideas that seduced them both.
Pages : 352
Publisher : University of Queensland Press
Publication date : 2011-06-01
Subjects: Non-fiction, Lifestyle, Sport And Leisure