A philosopher, a painter, a mathematician and a feminist. These are just a few of the accomplishments of the renowned Mathematician and Philosopher, Milie du Chtelet. Having lived an incredible life, she has impacted a large number of people around the world. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she has received many awards for her work.
Mathematician
Emilie du Chatelet is one of the most important mathematicians of the 18th century. She made an important contribution to science by translating Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica into French. Her translation of the work is still considered to be the standard of French physics.
Emilie du Chatelet was a French noblewoman who was born in 1706. She was the daughter of Charles Du Chatelet, a member of the aristocratic Parisian family. As a child, she received an exceptional education. In addition to studying the works of Leibniz, she also translated Newton’s book on mathematics into French.
Emilie du Chatelet gained much of her knowledge from her tutors. She studied the works of leading French and German physicists of the time. One of her tutors was Pierre Louis de Maupertuis. Another was Samuel Koenig, who was a renowned mathematician.
Philosopher
Emilie du Chatelet, a French philosopher, was responsible for the first complete translation of Isaac Newton’s Principia into French. The work incorporated recent mathematical research and summarized its merits. She also contributed to the modernization of physics.
Du Chatelet’s most important contribution was her participation in several important philosophical disputes of the 1740s. Her best known was the vis viva debate, which concerned the proper methods for measuring the force of a body.
Aside from the Vis Viva, Du Chatelet published a number of other works. One of her most influential was the Elements of Newton’s Philosophy, written in partnership with Voltaire. This book is one of the most influential books of the Enlightenment.
It is also believed that her work inspired the creation of the canon of philosophy in the late 19th century. In fact, she has been credited with establishing a metaphysical foundation that aspired to a Leibniz-inspired system.
Physicist
Emilie La Marquise Du Chatelet is one of the most celebrated of the French Enlightenment’s women writers and scientists. Her writings include Institutions de Physique (Foundations of Physics), which she wrote anonymously in 1740. This is the most important book that she published and it remains the standard English translation of her works.
In Institutions, Du Chatelet attempted to bring together the best ideas of Leibniz, Newton and Wolff. She did this by integrating their theories and presenting a general philosophical system. Moreover, she hoped to create a heavily Newtonian physics.
A number of scholars suggest that Du Chatelet intended to build on the metaphysical foundations of Leibniz and Newton. However, her work was also influenced by Descartes.
Her father was an enlightened and educated aristocrat. He did not want his daughter to attend a convent school, but instead taught her at home.
Painter
In 1732, a young painter by the name of Emilie du Chatelet met a prominent man. Florent-Claude Chastellet, Marquis Du Chatelet-Lomont, became her husband. Despite the fact that Florent-Claude had a military background, he was eventually made the governor of Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy. However, he spent the most of his time on garrison duties.
During this time, he was also introduced to Christian Wolff, a proponent of Leibniz’s approach to philosophy. They became close friends. Frederick the Great also introduced Du Chatelet to Christian Wolff. Their friendship continued throughout Du Chatelet’s life. As a result, she was introduced to other important figures in Europe.
One of the most famous texts of all time is Du Chatelet’s Discourse on Happiness. It was published in numerous translations and editions over the next two centuries. It was written in a very short, terse manner.
Feminist
One of the most famous authors of the eighteenth century, Milie du Chatelet was a woman of letters who built an impressive intellectual career. She specialized in mathematics and physics, a discipline traditionally associated with men. Du Chatelet was also active in a variety of important philosophical debates in the 1740s.
During her time in Paris, Du Chatelet joined several scientific societies and maintained contacts with influential figures across Europe. After Voltaire’s death, Du Chatelet became Voltaire’s assistant. In addition to this role, she published a number of treatises.
The most well known of these was her Discourse on Happiness. Published posthumously, the text has appeared in numerous translations. A short essay by Du Chatelet was also included in a prize essay competition held by the Academie Royale des Sciences.
