ABSTRACT
Jacob Bernoulli spent much of his life refi ning and expanding the calculus , which presents many occasions to contemplate the infi nite. As an innovative scientist, Jacob boldly grappled with it at many levels. His poem on the paradoxes of infi nity (written in Latin and translated by Martin Mattmüller , Basel, 2009) is a fi ne example:
Although the signifi cance of the calculus often eludes those who use it-the calculus can often feel more like a set of mechanical algorithms than a mind-boggling creation-Jacob didn’t forget to stand back and admire the amazing mathematical machine that he was developing. He was an artist with a grand view of his vast subject.
