Description
The extraordinary breadth and depth of Leibniz's intellectual vision commands ever increasing attention. As more texts gradually emerge from seemingly bottomless archives, new facets of his contribution to an astonishing variety of fields come to light. This volume provides a uniquely comprehensive, systematic, and up-to-date appraisal of Leibniz's thought thematically organized around its diverse but interrelated aspects. Discussion of his philosophical system naturally takes place of pride. A cluster of original essays revisit his logic, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of nature, moral and political philosophy, and philosophy of religion. The scope of the volume, however, goes beyond that of a philosophical collection to embrace all the main features of Leibniz's thought and activity. Contributions are offered on Leibniz as a mathematician (including not only his calculus but also determinant theory, symmetric functions, the dyadic, the analysis situs, probability and statistics); on Leibniz as a scientist (physics and also optics, cosmology, geology, physiology, medicine, and chemistry); on his technical innovations (the calculating machine and the technology of mining, as well as other discoveries); on his work as an 'intelligencer' and cultural networker, as jurist, historian, editor of sources and librarian; on his views on Europe's political future, religious toleration, and ecclesiastical reunification; on his proposals for political, administrative, economic, and social reform. In so doing, the volume serves as a unique cross-disciplinary point of contact for the many domains to which Leibniz contributed. By assembling leading specialists on all these topics, it offers the most rounded picture of Leibniz's endeavors currently available.
Table of Contents
AbbreviationsList of ContributorsIntroduction Maria Rosa AntognazzaLife and Works Maria Rosa AntognazzaPart I: God, Possible Worlds, and the Actual World1. Essences, Ideas, and Truths in God's Mind and in the Human Mind Massimo Mugnai 2. Theory of Relations and Universal Harmony Massimo Mugnai 3. The Principles of Contradiction, Sufficient Reason, and Identity of Indiscernibles Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra 4. The Actual World Donald Rutherford 5. Freedom and Contingency Jeffrey K. McDonough 6. The Problem of Evil and the Justice of God Paul Rateau Part II: Concepts, Knowledge, and Language7. The Complete Concept of an Individual Substance Stefano Di Bella 8. Theory of Knowledge: Mathematical and Natural Science Martha Bolton 9. The Scientia Generalis and the Encyclopaedia Arnaud Pelletier 10. Ars Characteristica, Logical Calculus, and Natural Languages Massimo Mugnai Part III: Mathematics11. The Calculus Siegmund Probst 12. Determinant Theory, Symmetric Functions, and Dyadic Eberhard Knobloch 13. Analysis Situs, the Foundations of Mathematics, and a Geometry of Space Vincenzo De Risi 14. Probability and Statistics James Cussens Part IV: The Physical World and its Metaphysical Grounding15. The Labyrinth of the Continuum Richard Arthur 16. Early Physics Philip Beeley 17. Force and Dynamics Daniel Garber and Tzuchien Tho 18. Body and Corporeal Substance Daniel Garber 19. Monads Donald Rutherford 20. Monadic Perception Heinrich Schepers 21. Mind and Body Adam Harmer 22. Space and Time Heinrich Schepers Part V: Scientific and Technical Work23. Optics Jeffrey K. McDonough 24. Cosmology Domenico Bertoloni Meli 25. The Origins and History of the Earth Andre Wakefield 26. Physiology and Organic Bodies François Duchesneau 27. Medicine Justin E. H. Smith 28. Alchemy and Chemistry Anne-Lise Rey 29. Calculating Machine Matthew L. Jones 30. The Technology of Mining and Other Technical Innovations Hartmut Hecht and Jürgen Gottschalk Part VI: Scientific Organizations, Cultural Networking, and Scholarship31. Scientific Organizations and Learned Societies Hartmut Rudolph 32. Leibniz's Network Howard Hotson 33. Leibniz as Historian Maria Rosa Antognazza 34. Leibniz as Librarian Margherita Palumbo Part VII: Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Politics35. Happiness and Justice Gregory Brown 36. Leibniz as Jurist Alberto Artosi and Giovanni Sartor 37. Leibniz's Political Vision for Europe Friedrich Beiderbeck 38. Proposals for Political, Administrative, Economic, and Social Reform Stephan Waldhoff Part VIII: Natural and Revealed Religion39. Arguments for the Existence of God Brandon C. Look 40. Faith and Reason Maria Rosa Antognazza 41. Philosophical Theology and Christian Doctrines Maria Rosa Antognazza 42. Ecclesiology, Ecumenism, and Toleration Maria Rosa Antognazza
