From the 28^th – 30^th of September 2022 we  hosted the workshop Émilie Du Châtelet in Relation to Leibniz and Wolff – Similarities and Differences dedicated to the theme at the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists in Paderborn.

The workshop was part of  our newly started DFG funded project which is dedicated to exploring all aspects of Émilie Du Châtelet’s important relationship to Leibniz and Wolff. Émilie Du Châtelet’s account of knowledge has broadly been introduced as a version of Leibnizian or Wolffian metaphysics. More recently, as scholarship on her work has become more detailed, this classification has been put into question. Most importantly, the question has been posed as to whether this classification of Du Châtelet’s epistemic contributions as ‘Leibnizian’ or ‘Wolffian’ misses the original approach and newfound ideas in Du Châtelet’s work. This project seeks to encourage further research on the theme and invites scholars to explore Du Châtelet’s contribution to the history of philosophy in relation to Leibniz and Wolff. We are asking in detail in what aspects Du Châtelet is inspired by Leibniz or Wolff respectively, and where she may differ from them? Jeffrey McDonough and Clara Carus are preparing a peer-reviewed edition on the theme as part of the project.

You can find all recorded talks on our YouTube Channel.