The Metaphysical Principles of the Infinitesimal Calculus (Collected Works of René Guénon)

148 Pages·2004·1.87 MB·English

by  René Guénon

The Metaphysical Principles
of the Infinitesi111al Calculus
Rene Guenon
COLLECTED WORKS OF RENE GUENON

THE METAPHYSICAL PRINCIPLES
OF THE INFINITESIMAL CALCULUS

RENE GUENON
THE METAPHYSICAL
PRINCIPLES OF THE
INFINITESIMAL
CALCULUS
Translators
Michael Allen
Henry D. Fohr
Editor
Samuel D. Fohr
SOPHIA PERENNIS
HILLSDALE NY
Originally published in French as
Les Principes du Calcullnfinitesimal
©Editions Gallimard 1946
English translation © Sophia Perennis 2001
First English Edition 2003
Second Impression 2004
All rights reserved
Series editor: James R. Wetmore
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, without permission
For information, address:
Sophia Perennis, P.O. Box 6u
Hillsdale NY 12529
sophiaperennis.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Guenon, Rene
[Principes du calcul infinitesimal. English]
The Metaphysical Principles of the infinitesimal calculus I Rene Guenon ;
translated by Henry D. Fohr, Michael Allen ; edited by Samuel D. Fohr
p. em.-(Collected works of Rene Guenon)
Includes index.
ISBN o 900588 12 8 (pbk: alk. paper)
ISBN o 900588 o8 x (cloth: alk. paper)
1. Calculus. I. Title
QA303.G9313 2001
515-dc21 2001000975
THE PUBLISHER
GIVES SPECIAL THANKS TO
HENRY D. AND JENNIE L. FOHR
FOR MAKING THIS EDITION POSSIBLE

CONTENTS
Editorial Note XIII
Preface 1
1 Infinite and Indefinite 7
2 The Contradiction of 'Infinite Number' 15
3 The Innumerable Multitude 19
4 The Measurement of the Continuous 25
5 Questions Raised by the Infinitesimal Method 31
6 'Well-Founded Fictions' 35
7 'Degrees of Infinity' 41
8 'Infinite Division' or Indefinite Divisibility 47
9 Indefinitely Increasing; Indefinitely Decreasing 54
10 Infinite and Continuous 6o
u The 'Law of Continuity' 64
12 The Notion of the Limit 69
13 Continuity and Passage to the Limit 74
14 'Vanishing Quantities' 78
15 Zero is not a Number 83
16 The Notation of Negative Numbers 89
17 Representation of the Equilibrium of Forces 95
18 Variable and Fixed Quantities 100
19 Successive Differentiations 103
20 Various Orders of Indefinitude 106