Gauss’s Style

Abstract

The second Brunswick period, from 1798 to 1807, was decisive for Gauss’s further development. He learnt to assess his powers, to select areas of research to which to devote his time and energy, and to assert himself in the scientific world. His development was not confined to the theoretical or scientific sphere; when reaching out in this way, Gauss was faced with the question of what attitude he should choose when dealing with students or colleagues who sought his advice. Very soon it must have been clear to him that he could not expect to benefit substantially from such discussions and exchanges of opinion; almost always he was at the giving and not at the receiving end. It may have been a temptation, but Gauss never chose to close himself off and dissociate himself from ordinary scientific exchanges. He was very well aware of the obligation of the genius to explain (himself) and to present subjects which he himself was able to penetrate quickly in a way that was accessible to a wider audience. He accepted as a “partner” or colleague anyone in whom he could perceive honest effort and interest. The correspondence, particularly with Schumacher and Gerling, provides the best examples, but there other instances like the extraordinary posthumous essay „Zur Metaphysik der Mathematik“.¹ Today, one would call it a didactic paper dealing with “foundational” questions like the definitions of addition and multiplication.