Leibniz and the function of book reviews

Leibniz viewed reviews as charitable acts by savants who dedicate part of their time to advancing science and returning it to society. This activity must be disinterested and scientifically honest insofar as it does not bring honor and recognition to the savant. Leibniz was an active reviewer of books for major journals of the time. Does his activity reflect what he says about savants? Through an analysis of a paradigmatic case – his review of John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding – I argue that, in this case at least, Leibniz used reviews as a scientific tool to instill prejudices in his scientific peers. By «prejudices», I do not mean false judgments about a book but rather precognitions that one must have to critically assess a book's content, which may incline readers to reject the author's arguments.