C. F. Gauss als Mathematik- und Astronomiehistoriker (Q795021)

Carl Friedrich Gauss, the ''princeps mathematicorum'' of the late 18th and the beginning 19th century is well known for his classical publishing style ''pauca-sed matura'' and his dislike to acknowledge results of his fellow mathematicians. He hated to teach, and anything that might even remotely be labeled ''popular'' or ''historical'' was usually far beneath his standard. We have to thank the author of this article that he reproduced two of the very rare examples when Gauss changed his mind in that respect. The articles are on the History of Mathematics and Astronomy in the 17th and 18th centuries in Germany. Written for a friend who published a ''History of Literature'' (which in those days included the sciences) Gauss obviously could not avoid writing those articles. It is always a pleasure when a great mathematician writes on the history of his subject and although short, they are no exception. After the verbatim reproduction, the author of this paper provides us with additional information on those mathematicians, who Gauss cared to mention but who are quite unknown today. In addition, the author gives us an interesting essay on possible motives and historical connections.