In 1667, Leibniz took a post in the court of the elector of Mainz, which was to involve him in various diplomatic missions, including one to Paris. During his four years in the French capital, he studied with the mathematician Christian Huygens, and developed a calculating machine that could multiply and divide. This intense activity culminated in his discovery of differential and integral calculus in 1676. However, it was not until 1684 that he published his findings, causing a controversy with Newton.
In 1676, Leibniz moved to Hanover to act as advisor and librarian to the Duke of Brunswick, who set him the daunting task of researching a family history. This undertaking burdened Leibniz for the rest of his life, distracting him from his more fundamental projects. From 1687 to 1690, he traveled in Europe, investigating historical archives. In 1690, he returned to Hanover, where he spent most of the remainder of his life. He became close to the Duchess Sophie and her daughter, Sophie Charlotte (later queen of Prussia). His discussions with Sophie Charlotte resulted in his Theodicy.
By 1704, Leibniz had completed a commentary on Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding, but, in view of Locke's death, he declined to publish the critique. Leibniz proposed many practical ventures. Between 1679 and 1686, he designed windmills and pumps, and drafted extensive plans for draining the Harz silver mines. Later, he experimented with silk production. In 1700, he founded the Berlin Academy of Sciences. He also tried to encourage an alliance between the various Christian faiths and, later, between the Christian states.
Despite the fact that Leibniz was a prolific writer, there is no long single systematic exposition of his philosophy as a whole. His written works are only short summaries of part of his thought. He wrote much of his philosophy in letters and notes. His main metaphysical works are Discourse on Metaphysics, 1686; New Essays Concerning Human Understanding,
1704; Theodicy, 1710; and Monadology, 1710.
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