The Notion of Mathematics — An Historico-epistemological Approach using Kaspar Schott’s Encyclopedia of all mathematical sciences

In 1661 Kaspar Schott published his comprehensive textbook Cursus mathematicus in Würzburg for the first time, his Encyclopedia of all mathematical sciences. Its success was so great that it was published again in 1674 and in 1677. In its 28 books Schott gave an introduction for beginners in twenty-two mathematical disciplines by means of 533 figures and numerous tables. He wanted to avoid the briefness and unintelligibility of the works of his predecessors Alsted and Hérigone. He cited or recommended more than hundred authors, among them Protestants like Michael Stifel and Johannes Kepler, but also Catholics like Nicolaus Copernicus. This paper gives a survey of Schott’s work and explains especially interesting aspects: The dedication to the German emperor Leopold I., Athanasius Kircher’s letter of recommendation, Schott’s classification of sciences, and explanations regarding geometry, astronomy, algebra.