2. August 17.00-19.00, CU001 Rettorato, Aula Organi Collegiali: Ruth Edith Hagengruber: Adding Voices to the Philosophy Curriculum. The talk is part of an invited session hosted by Floris Velema.

Teaching Hypotheses with Émilie Du Châtelet by Ruth Edith Hagengruber 

Abstract

The philosopher Emilie du Chatelet (1706-1749) was one of the most successful writers on philosophy and science of her time. Her texts were translated into several languages during her lifetime, which demonstrates the international appeal of her work. She can certainly be considered an innovator in philosophy and science. This achievement can be emphasised in the classroom by interpreting the chapter On Hypotheses, from her main work, the Institutions of Physics.

The exclusion of this impacting text from the history of philosophy delivers not only another proof of the unjustified elimination of women’s contributions, but also illustrates the loss and the failings of that history and its reception as well as demonstrating the interest-based nature of philosophical criteria applied up to our days. 

Ruth Hagengruber on Teaching Hypotheses