xxx KANT'S UNIVERSAL NATURAL HISTORY 



showed a mathematical precocity and a daring in 

 mathematics somewhat akin to that of Newton him- 

 self, and in his twenty-second year he published his 

 first mathematical work entitled, Thoughts on the 

 True Estimation of Living Forces (I/46-7), 1 in which 

 he already ventured to cope with Descartes, Leibnitz, 

 and Euler ; and if, as mathematicians now hold, he 

 did not successfully solve their standing controversy 

 upon the question, and even fell into considerable 

 errors, he yet exhibited a new and profounder grasp 

 of the problem. As this work has not been trans- 

 lated, nor is likely to be translated, Ueberweg's 

 account of it may be here reproduced, with his 

 comments in brackets : 



academic career. He attended uninterruptedly his instruction in 

 Philosophy and Mathematics. He also heard the lectures of R. 

 Teske, a learned and very upright man. When Kant afterwards 

 graduated as master, giving in an Essay on Elasticity to the Philo- 

 sophical Faculty, Teske gave this creditable testimony to it, that he 

 had himself learned much from this "specimen." But -this Knutzen 

 took the highest place among all his teachers. Knutzen traced out 

 for him and others the path upon which they might become not mere 

 imitators, but, some day, independent thinkers. It was unfortunate 

 that this Knutzen, from the injustice of fate, did not find a happier 

 lot in his country. He died in 1756, as Professor Extraordinarius of 

 Philosophy, universally honoured and beloved by the great circle of 

 his students, who, like Kant, owed to him the greatest part of their 



philosophical and mathematical knowledge In April, 1756, 



after Knutzen's death, he sought to obtain in his place the position 

 of Professor Extraordinarius, but without success.' (He did not 

 obtain that position till 1770.) Darstdlung des Lebens und Characters 

 Immamiel Kanf s, von Kant selbst genau revidirt imd berichtigt. 1804. 

 1 Gedanken von der wahren Schatzting der lebendigen Krcifte u. 

 Beurtheilung der Beweise, deren sick Leibnitz u. Andere Mechaniker 

 in dieser Streitsache bedient haben. 



