Title: Leibniz and Alexander von Humboldt

Abstract: Alexander von Humboldt often evaluated Leibniz's scientific achievements and projects. He was especially interested in Leibniz's contributions to the investigation of earth magnetism, his writings on earth history and his invention of the differential calculus. Hence this paper deals with these three subjects. It explains their historical background before it explains Humboldt's comments and evaluations. And it reveals for the first time some unpublished historical documents and letters, in particular Wittstein's 1851 letter to Humboldt.

Keywords: earth magnetism, earth history, analogical thinking, differential calculus, Theodor Wittstein

Author: Eberhard Knobloch, Professor, Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin, Germany.

 Leibniz and Alexander von Humboldt.pdf