Descartes
think Descartes' way is what made math lot more fun (linking algebra & geometry).
little bit of history which is rarely mentioned in history (cos most history is about political b.s): he's a genius but was remembered as not a very nice person at all (so they say, but he was a christian mercenary)! he was also honest & passionate about his intellectual work. was also a radical and wanted to publish his ideas but worried how his ideas would be received in catholic france. so he fled to protestant holland and published his mathematical works!
digressing from that thought, from my perspective, every single time societies relaxed dogma, a few (including the faithful) had the opportunity to push the envelope and further their own understanding and helped the rest that took us here (physics & biology).
little bit of history which is rarely mentioned in history (cos most history is about political b.s): he's a genius but was remembered as not a very nice person at all (so they say, but he was a christian mercenary)! he was also honest & passionate about his intellectual work. was also a radical and wanted to publish his ideas but worried how his ideas would be received in catholic france. so he fled to protestant holland and published his mathematical works!
digressing from that thought, from my perspective, every single time societies relaxed dogma, a few (including the faithful) had the opportunity to push the envelope and further their own understanding and helped the rest that took us here (physics & biology).