Pierre Louis Maupertuis  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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search Pierre Louis Maupertuis Maupertuis, wearing "lapmudes"
from his Lapland expedition. Born (1698-09-28)28 September 1698
Saint-Malo, France Died 27 July 1759(1759-07-27) (aged 60)
Basel, Switzerland Nationality French Fields Mathematics,
physics, biology, metaphysic, moral philosophy, astronomy,
geography Institutions French Academy, Berlin Academy Known for
Principle of least action, precursor of transmutation Influences
Leibniz, Newton, Descartes, Malebranche, Harvey, Berkeley,
Aristoteles, Seneca Influenced Euler, Buffon, Diderot, Kant
His early mathematical work revolved around the vis viva
controversy, for which Maupertuis developed and extended the
work of Isaac Newton (whose theories were not yet widely
accepted outside England) and argued against the waning
Cartesian mechanics. In the 1730s, the shape of the Earth became
a flashpoint in the battle among rival systems o