G. W. Leibniz (1646-1716) was one of the great polymaths of the modern world. As well as being among the greatest Rationalist metaphysicians of the post-medieval age, he built the first mechanical calculator capable of multiplication and division, and developed the binary, base-two system. As a physicist, he made advances in mechanics, coining the term "kinetic energy." As a mathematician, Leibniz invented calculus independently of Newton, and it is his notation, not Newton's, which is used to this day. Perhaps best known for the atomic concept of