Michael Stifel

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Michael Stifel

Michael Stifel (also: Styfel, Stieffel, Stiefel ; * around 1487 in Esslingen am Neckar ; † April 19, 1567 in Jena ) was a German theologian , mathematician and reformer .

Life

Fountain in memory of Michael Stifel in Annaburg

Stifel came from a wealthy background. Without theological training he entered the Augustinian monastery in Esslingen, where he was ordained a priest in 1511 . In the late medieval church and its priesthood there were divergent views on the question of eternal salvation. This was evident in dealing with the issue of indulgence , for example in dealing with the alms indulgence at that time. In the face of this daily need (problems of conscience, the uncertainty of salvation resulting from doubts) and social grievances, Stifel lived fully aware of a possible apocalypse and the second coming of Christ ( Rev 21  EU ). Tensions arose in the monastery when, in 1522, he came forward with his work on Martin Luther Von der Christian-shaped, legally founded, empty Doctoris Martini Lutheri . After his controversy with Thomas Murner , he was no longer safe and fled to Hartmut von Kronberg in Frankfurt am Main .

Martin Luther placed him as a Protestant preacher with Count Albrecht VII von Mansfeld in Mansfeld . There he began his mathematical studies, which led him to strange interpretations of the Bible . 1524 Stifel, following a recommendation from the Luther Jörgern on Castle Tollet in Grieskirchen ( Upper Austria called). After the situation worsened ( Leonhard Kaiser was executed ), Stifel returned to Wittenberg in 1527 . Stifel was the first Protestant preacher in Austria . During his stay with Luther in Wittenberg, Stifel put on a volume with copies of Luther's letters (in Latin / German). The volume was completed in 1534. Through the mediation of Martin Luther, Stifel received the parish office in Lochau . Luther introduced him there and married him with the widow (see: Conservation of parish widows ) of his predecessor Franz Günther .

Michael Stifel was fascinated by the properties and possibilities of numbers. In Lochau, today's Annaburg, Michael Stifel had the opportunity to deal intensively with number theory and number symbolism . Stifel initially dealt with the so-called "word calculation" which was quite common at the time. With it he tried to interpret texts and letters of the Bible mathematically and thus came to the conclusion in his work Vom End der Welt (Wittenberg 1532) that the world would end on October 19, 1533 at 8 a.m. On September 28, 1533, Luther implored him not to spread his fantastic ideas any further. Stifel could not be dissuaded from it. He had prepared his parish for the predicted end of the world, with the result that the farmers largely stopped their work. Properties were given up and Stifel gave away his books. Foreign flocked to Lochau, which Stifel in advance of the predicted Weltuntergangs continuously the confession decreased. When the downfall did not occur, he was arrested and did not return to Lochau after four weeks of protective custody in Wittenberg. The phrase “calculate a boot” or “talk a boot” goes back to this affair.

Stifel, Michael: A rake Büchlin Vom EndChrist ... Wittenberg 1532

Luther stood up for the harmless calculator, which subsequently only published sober arithmetic books. Michael Stifel dealt autodidactically with the most important mathematical works of his time. The first German-language algebra book "Die Coß" by Christoff Rudolff from 1524, which he says he "understood without oral instruction (with God's help)" and the books of Euclid in the Latin version of the Campanus of Novara deserve special mention . A recommendation from Jakob Milich , who promoted his scientific development and finally encouraged him to write a comprehensive work on algebra and arithmetic. From 1535 to 1547, Stifel worked as a pastor in Holzdorf , today's district of Jessen (Elster) . During this time, in 1541, he also enrolled to study mathematics at the University of Wittenberg . In the Schmalkaldic War expelled, he went to Haber Strohm in Königsberg in Prussia , but returned in 1554 back. Now he stood by Matthias Flacius . From 1554/55 to 1559 he was appointed pastor in Brück and in 1559 went to Jena, where he became the first professor of mathematics at the University of Jena . When the supporters of Flacius in Jena were overthrown, Nikolaus Selnecker kept him at his age.

His main work is the Arithmetica integra ( Nuremberg 1544), which presented a summary of the then known arithmetic and algebra ( Cardanos Ars magna appeared in 1545.) Stifel shows in many examples findings of contemporary mathematics, gives further contributions and thus does algebraic-algorithmic computing popular in Germany. He quotes well-known mathematicians and expresses his appreciation. Due to the popularity of the book, Stifel contributes to the spread of the plus and minus signs, the root sign and the "multiplication through juxtaposition" (omitting the operator between the terms). Stifel uses the Latin word facit or faciunt as an equal sign, which can be translated as "results".

In the Arithmetica integra , Stifel introduces the term “ exponent ” into mathematics. He publishes the calculation rules for powers with the same base and shows a table of powers for base 2. This table of values ​​assigns the corresponding power value to the respective exponent of base 2 (upper line is an integer exponent / lower line is a power value). Stifel explicitly points out that multiplication and division operations in the (lower) geometric series can be mapped by addition and subtraction operations in the (upper) arithmetic series. On the following page 250 he shows examples of this, also using negative exponents. Its processing provides another cornerstone for the development of logarithmic ( logarithm ) computing.

He further examines sequences of numbers and irrational numbers, which he describes as “size” (pp. 105b and 106b). Working with irrational numbers (e.g. root expressions) leads Stifel to occupy himself with roots of a higher (n-th) order. On pp. 38b-46b, Stifel gives a method for calculating roots of a higher degree using binomial coefficients.

numeri absurdi are the negative numbers (less than 0) that Stifel uses on an equal footing with the other numbers. Stifel was the first to have a standard method / normal form for solving quadratic equations . He was able to combine the various known solution cases into one form, since he uses positive and negative coefficients. He called his method / rule of thumb “AMASIAS”. Using "AMASIAS", he first verbally describes the procedure for solving a quadratic equation. The letters A, M, A&S, I, A&S each represent a work step.

Magic square

In the first book of Arithmetica Integra pp. 24a – 30b, Michael Stifel shows a method for creating magic squares of any size n, a kind of early Sudoku . Each number appears only once in a magic square. This square has the same sum in every row, column and in the 2 main diagonals. On pages 25 and 26b, a 9 × 9 square with the sum 369 and a 16 × 16 square with the sum 2056 are shown.


"Die Coss" , 1553 At the request of the businessman Christof Ottendorfer, who also financed the printing of the book, Michael Stifel published a revision of Christoff Rudolff's "Die Coss" by Christoff Rudolff , which was now out of print and no longer available on the market . Stifel provides the book with plenty of additions and calculation examples, so that the book doubles in size. In his foreword, Stifel breaks a lance for free access to knowledge. He defends Christoff Rudolff against the accusation “he partially waived the demonstration of his rules and copied examples from the Vienna library and thus 'stole' them”. Some contemporary mathematicians only wanted to discuss their knowledge in a small group at best and did not appreciate publications in German. Stifel is also concerned about the criticism. In conclusion, he writes in his foreword, “ So I order you nu this book, my dear Christoff Ottendorfer, to get it in print, for it I (h) r from everyone who should make use of the book (s) Thanks and Should have favor. But serving the world and waiting for thanks without ingratitude is a thing because nothing (dr) will work out. Seyet God commanded: Given to Haberstrohm near Königsperg in Prussia. The last day of the autumn moon 1552. Your willing Michael Stifel von Esslingen "

"Die Coss" was last printed in 1615 by Wilhelm Janson in Amsterdam. The mathematician Leonhard Euler used extensive material from the Coss in his "Complete Guide to Algebra Petersburg, 1770".

In Lochau, which was renamed Annaburg in the 16th century , there has been a sandstone and bronze fountain in his memory since 1996, which was created by the Dresden sculptor Vinzenz Wanitschke .

Since June 20, 2017, the primary school in the city of Annaburg has been the first educational institution ever to be called the Michael Stifel primary school .

See also

  • Michael-Stifel Center for Data and Simulation Science Jena (MSCJ)

Works

  • From the Christian-shaped, right-founded, empty Doctoris Martini Luther's, an overly beautifully artificially lyed: sampt his as well as his brother Michael Styfel, Augustinian von Esslingen - s. l., s. a. - 30 sheets: woodcuts; (German). Edited in: Pamphlets from the first years of the Reformation , ed. by Otto Clemen, Volume 3.7, Leipzig 1909.
  • Against Doctor Murnars wrongly Lyed finds out about the decline of Christian faith, Bruoder Michael Styfels v. Esslingen Uszleg u. Christian Gloß about it . Sl 1522.
  • Gospel of the toe pounds Matthei. on XXV. with beautiful Christian exposition . Strasbourg 1522.
  • Michel Styfel's answer to Doctor Thoman Murmar's Murnarrische Phantasey. With e. Brief description of the faith of Christ by Kayserlicher Oberkeit , Wittenberg 1523.
  • Gospel of the Lost Son Luce, xv. approx. Ain man had had zwen sön [et] c. , s. l., 1523.
  • A rake Büchlin vom EndChrist . Wittenberg 1532 ( digitized version of the Regensburg University Library ).
  • Arithmetica integra . Nuremberg 1544
  • German Aritmetica . Nuremberg 1545.
  • Arithmetic book from the French and German Practick . Nuremberg 1546.
  • The Coss Christoffs Rudolffs . Koenigsberg 1553
  • Brief outline of the entire teaching of Euclid in the tenth book of his elements . Koenigsberg 1551.
  • A very wonderful word calculation sampt a remarkable explanation of several Zalen Danielis and the revelation Sanct Johannis . [Sl] 1553.

literature

  • Julius Giesing: Stifel's Arithmetica integra. A contribution to the history of arithmetic in the 16th century. Chub 1879.
  • Adolf Guddas: Michael Styfel (1487–1567). Luther's intimate friend, the brilliant mathematician, pastor in the Duchy of Prussia. A contribution to the history of the Reformation (= writings of the Synodal Commission for East Prussian Church History, 25). Koenigsberg 1922.
  • Michael Stifel, pastor in Brück. Friend of Luther, a great mathematician, prophet of the end of the world , in: Zauche- und Fläming-Heimat 2, 1935, No. 6–12.
  • Joseph Ehrenfried Hofmann: Michael Stifel 1487? –1567. Life, work and significance for the mathematics of his time (= Sudhoffs Archiv, Beih. 9). Wiesbaden 1968.
  • Karin Reich (ed.): The Stifel biography by Georg Theodor Strobel (= Algorism, 11). Munich 1995, ISBN 3-89241-010-0 .
  • Siegrid Westphal: The Reformation as an Apocalypse. Luther, Michael Stifel and the "Lochau end of the world" 1533 , in: Enno Bünz / Rainer Gries / Frank Möller (eds.): The day X in history. Expectations and disappointments for a thousand years , Stuttgart 1997, pp. 102–125, ISBN 3-421-05099-6 .
  • Matthias Aubel: Michael Stifel. A mathematician in the age of humanism and the Reformation (= algorism, 72). Diss. Duisburg-Essen. Augsburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-936905-36-6 .
  • Felix Engel / Gerd-Christian Th. Treutler (eds.): Michael Stifel. Reformation + mathematics = apocalypse. Conference proceedings (= The Loose Series, 6). Brandenburg Genealogical Society "Roter Adler", Potsdam 2015, ISBN 978-3-945402-03-0 .
  • Moritz Cantor :  Stifel, Michael . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 36, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1893, pp. 208-216.
  • Boots, Michael. In: Johann Heinrich Zedler : Large complete universal lexicon of all sciences and arts . Volume 40, Leipzig 1744, column 22 f.
  • Daniel Heinz:  Stifel, Michael. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 16, Bautz, Herzberg 1999, ISBN 3-88309-079-4 , Sp. 1468-1472.  ( Article / beginning of article in Internet archive )

Web links

Commons : Michael Stifel  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Matthias Aubel: Michael Stifel: a mathematician in the age of humanism and the Reformation. Dissertation, University of Duisburg / Essen, Algorism , no . 72, Rauner, Augsburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-936905-36-6
  2. ↑ Publication by kathpress (2013): Letter from the reformer Martin Luther to Countess Dorothea Jörger
  3. ↑ Marktfest Committee Waizenkirchen (1893): Waizenkirchen commemorative sheets for the 300th anniversary of the market survey in 1593 , p. 26, Wels 1893, digitized version of the Upper Austria regional library
  4. ↑ Michael Stifel (1534): Martin Luther letters and sermons; Michael Stifel Passionsharmonie , manuscript volume, Wittenberg 1534, digitized version of the Jena University Library
  5. ↑ Kurt Vogel (1981): Stifel, Michael, footnote 8: Eyewitness report recorded in a letter from Petrus Weller to Johannes Briessmann Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography (2008) on Encyclopedia.com. < http://www.encyclopedia.com >
  6. ↑ Gunter Grimm (1985): Prophet of the end of the world Michael Stifel: Augustinian monk, algebraic, apocalyptic , University of Duisburg
  7. ↑ Stiefel (speaking / writing a boot), accessed January 11, 2012
  8. ↑ Kurt Vogel (1981): Stifel, Michael, (Zeit in Holzdorf) Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography (2008) on Encyclopedia.com. < http://www.encyclopedia.com >
  9. ↑ Album Academiae vitebergensis 1502-1560 , Leipzig 1841
  10. ^ Pastor in Brück Brandenburg Article on www.wiki-de.genealogy.net
  11. ↑ Moritz Cantor (1857): Petrus Ramus, Michael Stifel, Hieronymus Cardanus, three mathematical character pictures from the 16th century (p. 367) Article in the magazine for mathematics and physics / literary newspaper Volume 2 (1857), digitized version of the Heidelberg University Library
  12. ↑ Michael Stifel (1544): arithmetica integra . Johann Petreium, Nuremberg 1544, p. 249B,.
  13. ↑ Bertram Maurer (1999): Treatise on the life and work of Stifels , Kolping-Kolleg Stuttgart
  14. ↑ Friedrich Kirchner (1907): Dictionary of basic philosophical terms . on textlog.de,.
  15. ↑ Michael Stifel (1544): arithmetica integra . Johann Petreium, Nuremberg 1544, p. 240B,.
  16. ↑ Bertram Maurer (1999): Treatise on the life and work of Stifels , Kolping-Kolleg Stuttgart
  17. ↑ Michael Stifel (editor), (1553): Die Coß Christoffs Rudolffs. With nice examples of the Coß. Improved and greatly increased by Michael Stifel, 1553 edition from 1615, copy of the Bavarian State Library on google books
  18. ↑ Albrecht Heeffer (2005): The_origin_of_the_problems_in_Eulers_Algebra article on academia.edu
  19. ^ History of Annaburg , website of the city of Annaburg
  20. ↑ Manfred Wünsche: Michael Stiefel - Part II - Reminder and Warning (PDF; 4.6 MB) , Eppendorfer Anzeiger, November 2011 edition, October 31, 2011, p. 6, accessed on September 6, 2013
  21. ^ Frank Grommisch: Elementary School Annaburg: Now named after Michael Stifel . In: Mitteldeutsche Zeitung . ( mz-web.de [accessed on June 21, 2017]).
  22. ↑ The Mainz City Library has an edition from the provenance of Achilles Pirminius Gasser .
  23. ↑ The Coss Christoffs Rudolffs. With fine examples of the Coss. Improved and greatly increased by Michael Stifel. Pressed at Königsperg in Prussia by Alexandrum Lutemyslensem in jar 1553 . Digital reconstruction at the Bielefeld University Library
personal data
SURNAME Stifel, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Boots, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian, mathematician and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH 1487
PLACE OF BIRTH Esslingen am Neckar
DATE OF DEATH April 19, 1567
Place of death Jena