But it has been objected on several occasions, that the modern improvements have been established for the most part upon new and exceptionable maxims… - Colin MacLaurin

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But it has been objected on several occasions, that the modern improvements have been established for the most part upon new and exceptionable maxims, of too abstruse a nature to deserve a place amongst the plain principles of the ancient geometry: and some have proceeded so far as to impute false reasoning to those authors who have contributed most to the late discoveries, and have at the same time been most cautious in their manner of describing them.

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About Colin MacLaurin

Colin Maclaurin (February 1698 – 14 June 1746) M'Laurine, or MacLaurin, was a Scottish mathematician who made important contributions to geometry and algebra. He is also known for being a child prodigy and holding the record for being the youngest professor. The Maclaurin series, a special case of the Taylor series, is named after him.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Native Name: Colin Maclaurin Cailean MacLabhruinn
Alternative Names: Colin M'laurine

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Nature … has made it impossible for us to have any communication from this earth with the other great bodies of the universe, in our present state; and it is highly possible that he has likewise cut off all communication betwixt the other planets, and betwixt the different systems.… We observe, in all of them, enough to raise our curiosity, but not to satisfy it … It does not appear to be suitable to the wisdom that shines throughout all nature, to suppose that we should see so far, and have our curiosity so much raised … only to be disappointed at the end … This, therefore, naturally leads us to consider our present state as only the dawn or beginning of our existence, and as a state of preparation or probation for farther advancement.…

In delivering the principles of this method, we apprehend it is better to avoid such suppositions: but after these are demonstrated, short and concise ways of speaking, though less accurate, may be permitted, when there is no hazard of our introducing any uncertainty or obscurity into the science from the use of them, or of involving it in disputes.

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[C]onsider the steps by which the antients were able... from the mensuration of right-lined figures, to judge of such as were bounded by curve lines; for as they did not allow themselves to resolve curvilineal figures into rectilineal elements, it is worth examin[ing] by what art they could make a transition from the one to the other: and as they... finish their demonstrations in the most perfect manner... by following their example... in demonstrating a method so much more general than their's, we may best guard against exceptions and cavils, and vary less from the old foundations of geometry.

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