CfA: Metaphysics after the 'Scientific Revolution'
Metaphysics
after the ‘Scientific Revolution’ (1687-1781)
October
2-3, 2017
University
of Bucharest, Institute for Research in the Humanities and the Faculty
of Philosophy
Submission
deadline: August 1, 2017
Confirmed
keynote speakers:
Paola
Basso (University of Bucharest)
Andrew
Janiak (Duke University)
Anne-Lise
Rey (University of Lille)
(further
speakers to be announced shortly)
Organized
by:
Tinca
Prunea-Bretonnet (University of Bucharest) and Grigore Vida (University
of Bucharest)
The purpose of this conference is
to investigate the redefinition of metaphysics in the period from
Newton’s Principia,
marking the apex of the so-called ‘Scientific Revolution’, to Kant’s Critique of Pure
Reason. During this time metaphysics underwent significant
transformations in response to the radical challenges posed by the new
physics and empiricism. The Newtonian paradigm became dominant, but
there was growing dissatisfaction with what was regarded as its lack of
metaphysical foundation. The German Enlightenment continued to promote
a strong speculative metaphysics; elsewhere in Europe, the ‘aversion to
Metaphysics’, as it was once called, was gradually counterbalanced by
renewed interest in metaphysics. New attempts were made to ‘save’
metaphysics and reconcile Newton and Leibniz (for example) and, more
broadly, to accomplish a new philosophical synthesis, which would
address both the rejection of traditional metaphysics (understood as metaphysica generalis and metaphysica specialis, the
latter comprising
three disciplines) and the aspiration to provide a firm and universal
foundation for morals and physics.
We welcome proposals on the
European Enlightenment in general on any topic related to the
conference theme. Proposals may address (but are not limited to) the
following questions:
How did Newtonian physics influence
the German speculative metaphysics? Were several metaphysical doctrines
in competition in the first half of the 18th century? Can we talk about
an epistemological turn in metaphysics during this period? Can we talk
about ‘scientific metaphysics’ in the 18th century? Does metaphysics
still have an object after the ‘Scientific Revolution’? Is there a
specific method for metaphysics ? How does it relate to mathematics and
experience ? Can metaphysical truths be certain ? Does natural
philosophy need first principles?
Presentation
time will be 30 minutes + 15 minutes for discussion.
Languages:
English and French.
Please
send an abstract (of no more than 500 words) in doc(x)word as
attachment to: metaphscirev@gmail.com
Abstracts
should be prepared for double-blind review by removing any
identification details. The author’s name, institutional position and
affiliation, and the paper title, as well as contact information,
should be included in the body of the e-mail.
Notification
of acceptance by August 18, 2017.
Registration
fee: 20 euros. The conference does not provide funding for speakers’
travel or accommodation.
Please
contact one of the organisers for further questions: Tinca
Prunea-Bretonnet (tinca.prunea@icub.unibuc.ro);
Grigore Vida (grigore.vida@gmail.com)