Detlef Laugwitz

Starting in 1949, he studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy at the Georg-August-University at Göttingen, where he received his doctorate in 1954.

In 1958 he became a lecturer at the Technical University of Munich, where he obtained his Habilitation.

In 1958 he moved to the Technical University of Darmstadt, where in 1962 he became a professor, and remained until his retirement.

In 1958 he and Curt Schmieden developed their own approach to infinitesimals through field extensions, independently of Abraham Robinson.

They described this as "infinitesimal mathematics" and leading back to the historical roots in Leibniz.