Mathesis universalis

Mathesis universalis (Latin ) refers to the development of René Descartes idea of ​​a universal mathematics with which everything is to be explained, which is subjected to the order or the extent and in serving the deductive method of logic as a universal means of knowledge. Descartes shows being influenced by the popular in the mathematics of the 17th century algebraic methods (see: Franciscus Vieta and Logistica speciosa).

The idea of ​​mathesis universalis has evolved to that of a characteristica universalis by Leibniz, a formalized language of science. Similarly, the mathesis universalis is his concept of the calculus ratiocinator, a formalized logic calculus based.

With the idea of ​​mathesis universalis both mathematical logic was anticipated as a mathematics considers as is characteristic for the logicism of the 19th and 20th centuries.

For the cybernetics of Norbert Wiener and the General system theory of Bertalanffy the mathesis universalis is an important guide in the formulation of the general system principles.