Universität Wien
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180133 PS Leibniz's Scientia Generalis (2022W)

Unity of science from the spirit of philosophy

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 45 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 11.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 18.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 25.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 08.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 15.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 22.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 29.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 06.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 13.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 10.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 17.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 24.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 31.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The project of a general science ("Scientia Generalis") shows Leibniz's understanding of what philosophy is and has to achieve as a whole, in connection with all individual sciences as well as with human practice. The claim of universality and generality made by this early form of unified science allows Leibniz to draw a maximum thematic arc that affects all areas of life and knowledge. It ranges from the logical foundations of a formal universal language (characteristica universalis) through the basic questions of metaphysics (first philosophy) to the shaping of public happiness (felicitas publica). Bringing all this together in a reasonable mode of theory and handling is Leibniz's answer to the question of what can be binding about philosophy at all, and leads beyond a mere encyclopaedia, but also shows current syndromes such as basic research, information society or knowledge society as problematic on. How this generality (generalitas; universalitas; universitas) can be claimed by philosophy and how this is expressed in Leibniz is to be understood in this seminar.

In a narrower sense, Leibniz' general science deals with three directions:
(1) On the one hand, about the theory of science and the philosophy of science question of how different types of science (e.g. natural, social and human sciences; formal and real sciences) can be delimited, reconciled and based.
(2) on the other hand, about their relationship to (social and personal) practice, such as the use of the sciences to promote happiness (felicitas publica).
(3) thirdly, however, about the combination and justification of these intentions: about their metaphysical-logical foundation.
Leibniz's explanations on the "Characteristica universalis" as a formal language therefore represent an important, fundamental (but by no means exhaustive) part of general science, and the fundamental considerations on the "logical calculus" (Fundamenta calculi logici) also go in this direction, from which both in the seminar and individual fragments will be read as well.

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation, partly group work, written work at the end.
The SE can be credited for both the Bachelor's and the Master's section.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

[1] Knowledge of the conception of Leibniz` Scientia Generalis; [2] understanding of the intentions that Leibniz associated with it; [3] Understanding of the philosophical problems that result from this comprehensive conception: foundation problems, agreement of theory and practice, connection or relationship of science-art-politics-religion-ethics-technology, role of philosophy (first philosophy) as a basic discipline for the methodologically different individual sciences, relationship between logic and ontology, relationship between natural philosophy-social philosophy-philosophy of the spirit. [4] In addition, [5] the contextualization in a current frame of reference should be conveyed.

Examination topics

Individual pieces of text from the early to later phase are read, presented and discussed by the participants independently. The lecturers explain historical contexts (cf. Bacon, Lullus, Comenius, Alsted, Weigel, Zabarella) and provide translations or translation aids for the texts in the original language.

Since the SG is not complete either in the Gerhardt edition (Phil. Schr. Vol. 7) or in the unfinished Academy edition, a supplementary combination of the seminar with the parallel excursion seminar "Experiencing Leibniz - Understanding Leibniz" for the purpose of viewing archive material makes a lot of sense. In the excursion seminar, unpublished texts on the Scientia Generalis in the Leibniz Archive in Hanover can and should also be processed.
The material should be worked through in blocks (2 weeks) in the form of group work; Participation through presentations, smaller exercises and participation in discussions; final written work. When reading the fragments on the Scientia Generalis, the participants should also include independent suggestions for a text selection that should make an overall outline of the comprehensive content visible.

Reading list

The texts will be announced in detail and some will be made available in Moodle from September.
They essentially come from Leibniz:
-- Scientia Generalis. characteristics. In: The philosophical writings. Edited by C.I. Gerhardt, Vol. 7 [1890]. Repr. Hildesheim: Olms 1960, pp. 43-247
-- All writings and letters (academy edition = AA) vol.VI.4 (parts A and B, selection, including the texts under the pseudonym "Wilhelm Pacidius"),
also online: http://www.uni-muenster.de/Leibniz/bd_6_4_2009.html:
-- Opuscules et Fragments inédits. Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque royale de Hanovre. Edited by Louis Couturat. Paris 1903
-- The basics of the logical calculus/Fundamenta calculi logici. Latin-German Edited, translated and provided with an introduction and commentary by Franz Schupp and Stephanie Weber. Hamburg: Meiner 2000 (= PhB 525) (reprint 2013)
-- History as return of the same? The Apokatastasis Fragment (1715). In: Leibniz: Writings and letters on history. Edited, annotated and ed. by Malte-Ludolf Babin and Gerd van den Heuvel. Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung 2004 (= publications of the Historical Commission for Lower Saxony and Bremen 218), pp. 550-561

For unpublished materials on the Scientia Generalis, see the accompanying seminar (excursion in Hanover).

Secondary literature will be announced in detail at the beginning of the semester on October 9 (M. Friedman 2010, Gaukroger 2010, H.H. Holz 2013, Moll 1978, Poser ²2010, Schepers 1989 and 1999, M. Schneider 2011, Zehetner 2007 and others)
Handset and Moodle with relevant materials will be set up.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 29.09.2022 15:09