BIB_ID
299851
Accession number
MA 3874.16
Creator
König, Samuel, 1712-1757.
Display Date
1752 Feb. 15.
Credit line
Gift of Mr. H. P. Kraus, 1979.
Description
1 item (6 p.) ; 23.2 cm
Notes
Schumann notes that Koenig's attempt to prevent his expulsion was in vain; his explanations were not accepted and he was formally dismissed.
Signed "S. Koenig."
Jean Henri Samuel Formey was Secretary of the Berlin Academy.
Part of a collection 19 letters related to the least action controversy. Items in the collection are described in individual records; see collection-level record for MA 3874 for more information.
Signed "S. Koenig."
Jean Henri Samuel Formey was Secretary of the Berlin Academy.
Part of a collection 19 letters related to the least action controversy. Items in the collection are described in individual records; see collection-level record for MA 3874 for more information.
Provenance
Gift of Mr. H. P. Kraus, 1979.
Summary
A formal reply to the Berlin Academy, giving a detailed answer to the charges made against him by Maupertuis. Emphatically stating that the Leibniz quotation, upon which his paper in the Acta Eruditorum was possessed by him only in copy, noting that the original was in Switzerland and not accessible to him. Stating that the existence of an unpublished letter by Leibniz did not deprive Maupertuis of the credit for the principle of least action. Asserting, however, his right to differ from the principle. Repeating that he has no intention of encroaching upon the rights or privileges of any member of the academy.
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