Thesis ID: CBB001567429

Early Modern Arguments for Scientific Knowledge of Nature as a Moral Duty (2013)

unapi

Muriel-Solorzano, Veronica (Author)


Freeman, Samuel
Weisberg, Michael
University of Pennsylvania
Guyer, Paul
Freeman, Samuel
Martin, Adrienne
Weisberg, Michael
Detlefsen, Karen
Guyer, Paul
Martin, Adrienne


Publication Date: 2013
Edition Details: Advisor: Detlefsen, Karen; Committee Members: Guyer, Paul, Freeman, Samuel, Martin, Adrienne, Weisberg, Michael.
Physical Details: 245 pp.
Language: English

In my dissertation, I argue that there is a single idea underlying otherwise very dissimilar early modern philosophical systems: the idea that scientific knowledge of nature is a moral duty. Based on Samuel Pufendorf's categorization of moral duties, I study three arguments based on his view that there are three possible subjects to whom we are morally indebted: God, oneself, and humanity as a whole. Using Pufendorf's framework, I choose a paradigmatic author for each of these subjects respectively: Christian Wolff, for scientific knowledge as a duty towards God; Baruch de Spinoza, for knowledge as a duty towards oneself; Immanuel Kant, for scientific knowledge as a duty towards humanity. Preceding these analyses, an introductory chapter on René Descartes and Francis Bacon provides evidence for the incipient presence of these arguments in both of their works and, thus, for the presence of this underlying moral conviction independently of an author's particular epistemological stance. The dissertation records how, depending on whom an author thinks we are morally indebted to, more emphasis is placed on a particular aspect of scientific knowledge. Wolff's view emphasizes the importance of content and truth : it takes the laws of nature to be absolutely true descriptions of a world that mirrors God's essence. Spinoza and Kant value the truth and content of scientific knowledge as well, but they place more emphasis on its method , its attitude , and its structure . Through this analysis, I underscore important aspects of these authors' systems. For Bacon and Descartes, I show the common moral ground from which their views start, and how their work contains the seeds of future arguments. Regarding Christian Wolff, I explore the relationship between his view of God's intellect and his claims about the connection between metaphysics, morality, and the physical sciences. For both him and Spinoza, I provide an account of how their deductive systems accommodate observation and experience. In the case of Kant, finally, I explore and confirm the necessary connection between what we owe others and what we owe ourselves.

...More

Description Cited in Dissertation Abstracts International-A 75/01(E), Jul 2014. Proquest Document ID: 1443535390.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001567429/

Similar Citations

Article Federico Boccaccini; Anna Marmodoro; (2017)
Powers, Abilities and Skills in Early Modern Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB647362818/)

Article Schliesser, Eric; (2013)
On Reading Newton as an Epicurean: Kant, Spinozism and the Changes to the Principia (/isis/citation/CBB001320265/)

Chapter Sutherland, Daniel; (2010)
Philosophy, Geometry, and Logic in Leibniz, Wolff, and the Early Kant (/isis/citation/CBB001033539/)

Chapter Enrico Giannetto; (2009)
La Fisica di Spinoza fra Descartes e Newton e la sua influenza su Einstein (/isis/citation/CBB550074250/)

Book Alexandre Koyré; Andrea Cavazzini; (2023)
Scritti su Spinoza e l’averroismo (/isis/citation/CBB295676571/)

Thesis Christopher P. Noble; (2016)
The Soul as Spiritual Automaton in Leibniz's Synthetic Natural Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB700001563/)

Article Fiormichele Benigni; (2017)
Questioning Mechanism: Fénelon’s Oblique Cartesianism (/isis/citation/CBB348584037/)

Book Osler, Margaret J.; (2000)
Rethinking the scientific revolution (/isis/citation/CBB000110137/)

Book Buisman, J. W.; (2013)
Verlichting in Nederland 1650--1850: vrede tussen rede en religie? (/isis/citation/CBB001510188/)

Article Corey Dyck; (2016)
Materialism in the Mainstream of Early German Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB280649402/)

Book Hecht, Hartmut; (1991)
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz im philosophischen Diskurs über Geometrie und Erfahrung (/isis/citation/CBB000036713/)

Book Nolan, Lawrence; (2011)
Primary and Secondary Qualities: The Historical and Ongoing Debate (/isis/citation/CBB001035171/)

Book Paolo Pecere; (2023)
La natura della mente. Da Cartesio alle scienze cognitive (/isis/citation/CBB751480142/)

Article Berg, Hein van den; (2013)
The Wolffian Roots of Kant's Teleology (/isis/citation/CBB001320551/)

Article Watkins, Eric; (2003)
Forces and Causes in Kant's Early Pre-Critical Writings (/isis/citation/CBB000340868/)

Book Koetsier, Teun; Bergmans, Luc; (2005)
Mathematics and the Divine: A Historical Study (/isis/citation/CBB000500288/)

Article Andrea Sangiacomo; (2015)
The Ontology of Determination: From Descartes to Spinoza (/isis/citation/CBB003679171/)

Article Ablondi, Frederick; Barbone, Steve; (1994 (pub. 1996))
Individual identity in Descartes and Spinoza (/isis/citation/CBB000072307/)

Authors & Contributors
Boccaccini, Federico
Christopher P. Noble
Sangiacomo, Andrea
Dyck, Corey
Pecere, Paolo
Benigni, Fiormichele
Concepts
Philosophy
Natural philosophy
Science and religion
Psychology
Cartesianism
Ethics
Time Periods
17th century
18th century
Early modern
20th century
Modern
19th century
Places
Europe
Netherlands
Germany
China
Great Britain
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment