Rational Thoughts on the Powers of Human Understanding (German Logic)

Preface ###

right use of the understanding to attain, which I—due to deeply rooted prejudices and passions—was unwilling to do for many of them. I do not wish to repeat other testimonies here, because they have already been cited in the preface concerning the instruction of the mathematical method in my Principles of the Mathematical Sciences original: Anfangs-Gründen der Mathematischen Wissenschafften; this refers to Christian Wolff’s foundational multi-volume work on mathematics and physics, first published in 1710. And this has been precisely one of my main intentions why I applied myself seriously to mathematics: not that I learned it as a trade to earn my bread; for it was likely never my true intention to serve as a professor of mathematics Professor Matheseos; "Matheseos" is the Latin genitive form of "Mathesis," meaning "of mathematics", until I received my first calling vocation; from the Latin vocatio, referring to a formal appointment to a university chair or office to it, which I regarded as a divine sign. What I have now noted through the reading of mathematical writings and through my own manifold reflection on the use of the powers of the human understanding, I have wished to compose into short rules—specifically the easiest points and those most necessary to know first. For if I were to write everything that I [have found] through my