Main notions and architectonics of metaphysics. Kant’s criticism of Wolff in 1763

Buchenau, Stéfanie

doi:10.4000/asterion.2136

Cited by 3 publications

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“…2 See Wolff (2001, 336ff.). For discussion of Wolff's contention that metaphysics enjoys greater certainty than mathematics, see Buchenau (2011). On Wolff's idealism generally, see Rutherford (2004).…”

Section: Wolff's Ambivalence About Mathematics In Physicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Du Châtelet on the Need for Mathematics in Physics

Wells¹

2021

Philos. of Sci.

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There is a tension in Emilie Du Châtelet's thought on mathematics. The objects of mathematics are ideal or fictional entities; nevertheless, mathematics is presented as indispensable for an account of the physical world. After outlining Du Châtelet's position, and showing how she departs from Christian Wolff's pessimism about Newtonian mathematical physics, I show that the tension in her position is only apparent. Du Châtelet has a worked-out defense of the explanatory and epistemic need for mathematical objects, consistent with their metaphysical non-fundamentality. I conclude by sketching how Du Châtelet's conception of mathematical indispensability differs interestingly from many contemporary approaches.

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Section: Wolff's Ambivalence About Mathematics In Physicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Du Châtelet on the Need for Mathematics in Physics

Wells¹

2021

Philos. of Sci.

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“…They can serve as the first elements and rules for the discovery of as yet unknown truths. These directive notions, Wolff asserts, show 'where I must direct my thoughts so that I will not go astray' and 'kindle a light so that I can see my way' (Wolff 2001: §3; see also Buchenau 2011). According to a second and equally fascinating essay, titled De differentia intellectus systematici et non systematici (Wolff 2019), systematizing basically means connecting.…”

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confidence: 99%

Kant’s Wolffianism: Comments on Karin de Boer’s Kant’s Reform of Metaphysics

Buchenau

2022

Kantian rev.

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In her new book, Karin de Boer attempts to read Kant’s first Critique as a reform of a Wolffian project. My contribution contains several comments and questions that aim to further develop this stimulating approach to Kant. They concern (1) the affinities and disagreements between Kant and Wolff, regarding metaphysics, epistemology and method; (2) the place of Wolff’s students (in particular Mendelssohn) in De Boer’s narrative; and (3) the development of the dialogue between Wolff and Kant in the latter’s later writings.

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Du Châtelet on Sufficient Reason and Empirical Explanation

Wells¹

2021

The Southern J of Philosophy

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For Émilie Du Châtelet, I argue, a central role of the principle of sufficient reason is to discriminate between better and worse explanations. Her principle of sufficient reason does not play this role for just any conceivable intellect: it specifically enables understanding for minds like ours. She develops this idea in terms of two criteria for the success of our explanations: “understanding how” and “understanding why.” These criteria can respectively be connected to the determinateness and contrastivity of explanations. The crucial role Du Châtelet’s principle of sufficient reason plays in identifying good explanations is often overlooked in the literature, or else run together with questions about the justification and likelihood of explanations. An auxiliary goal of the article is to situate Du Châtelet’s principle of sufficient reason with respect to some of the general epistemological and metaphysical commitments of her Institutions de Physique, clarifying how it fits into the broader project of that work.

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Main notions and architectonics of metaphysics. Kant’s criticism of Wolff in 1763

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Du Châtelet on the Need for Mathematics in Physics

Du Châtelet on the Need for Mathematics in Physics

Kant’s Wolffianism: Comments on Karin de Boer’s Kant’s Reform of Metaphysics

Du Châtelet on Sufficient Reason and Empirical Explanation

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