Leibniz

Perhaps Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716), who largely invented our modern notions of binary arithmetic, feedback, and symbolic computation, would have liked Tcl if only in appreciation for tclsh's provision of an interactive propositional calculator , as well as the language's Unicode-savvy adeptness with human scripts.

Leibniz' current reputation in the Anglo world is less than he deserves, testimony to Newton's powers of vilification.


[Maybe mention the connection with monads.]


"Es wird dann beim Auftreten von Streitfragen für zwei Philosophen nicht mehr Aufwand an wissenschaftlichem Gespräch erforderlich sein als für zwei Rechnerfachleute. Es wird genügen, Schreibzeug zur Hand zu nehmen, sich vor das Rechengerät zu setzen und zueinander (wenn es gefällt, in freundschaftlichem Ton) zu sagen: Laßt uns rechnen."

Latin original: Die philosophischen Schriften von Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (ed. C. J. Gerhardt), Volume 7, Berlin, 1890, p. 200 in a group of texts [Vorarbeiten zur allgemeinen Charakteristik], title by Gerhardt:

"... quando orientur controversiae, non magis disputatione opus erit inter duos philosophos, quam inter duos Computistas. Sufficiet enim calamos in manus sumere sedereque ad abacos, et sibi mutuo (accito si placet amico) dicere: c a l c u l e m u s."


      In limey.

If arguments are started,there should be no more debate between two philosophers than among two methods of computations. In fact, it is adequate to sum by hand and check by abacus. If you wish, call it calculus: gold & sleepy Latin.