“Tirer d’eux leurs secrets”

Leibniz on Artisanal Knowledge and “Secret” Geometry

Bibliographic Data

ID21392463
AuthorsYoav Beirach (0009-0006-1550-9178, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, corresponding author), M Friedman (0000-0002-2905-0170, University of Bonn, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume33
Issue2
Pages107-144
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNTM Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Wissenschaften Technik und Medizin (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-6978 • E-ISSN: 1420-9144
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s00048-025-00414-8
PMID40478266
OpenAlexW4411096176
LanguageEN
References cited35

What was Leibniz’s approach to artisanal knowledge? And how did he consider it with respect to mathematical, and more concretely, to geometrical knowledge? On the one hand, Leibniz emphasizes several times in his writings that one should extract “secrets and inventions” from the artisans. On the other hand, Leibniz points out that such artisans cannot formulate by themselves the geometric principles at the base of their machines. In this paper, we examine these intricate relations between Leibniz’s reflections on artisans, especially clockmakers and textile workers, as well as his thoughts on mechanical and geometric knowledge. Leibniz’s considerations of various artisanal machines, like clocks and looms, lead us to discuss his wish to expand geometry, presenting these machines as embodying a “secret,” “hidden,” or even “deeper” or “more profound” geometry

Base (topology) · Epistemology · Geometry · Mathematical analysis · Architecture and Art History Studies · Computer Science · Historical Philosophy and Science · History and Theory of Mathematics · Mathematics · Philosophy