In his time, Johann Heinrich Lambert (17281777) was considered one of Europe's polymathic geniuses. His research encompassed mathematics, the philosophy of logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and linguistics, as well as astronomy and physics. Through his numerous publications, he not only exerted an influence on his fellow academics; as a popular philosopher, he also impacted public debate in the Enlightenment era.

H.-P. Nowitzki, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena; E. Pasini und P. Rumore, Università di Torino; G. Stiening, LMU München.