Rudolph Hermann Lotze: A Reassessment

We invite submissions of abstracts for the conference Rudolph Hermann Lotze: A Reassessment. The conference will take place at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Paderborn, Germany, from September 4 to 6, 2023.

Overview

The conference aims to examine the various aspects of the work of the philosopher Rudolph Hermann Lotze (1817–1881). Renewed interest in Lotze is evidenced by new editions of two of his most important works, Mikrokosmos and Medicinische Psychologie, and by several scholarly publications devoted to him, among them Late German Idealism: Trendelenburg and Lotze by Frederick C. Beiser (2013); Hermann Lotze: An Intellectual Biography by William R. Woodward (2015); Hermann Lotze’s Influence on Twentieth Century Philosophy by Nikolay Milkov (forthcoming May 2023). This interest has been primarily stimulated by intensive study of the history ofthe 19th and 20th century philosophy in recent decades. It revealed that in the fin de siècle Lotze was commonly considered a leading philosopher not only in Germany but also in the United Kingdom and in the United States. He provenly influenced early analytic philosophy (Frege and partly also Russell), phenomenology, the neo-Kantians, Dilthey’s philosophy of life, the British Idealists, and also the American pragmatists James, Royce, Santayana.

It is intended to publish a volume of selected papers.

Organizers are Prof. Dr. Nikolay Milkov (University of Paderborn) and Dr. Michele Vagnetti (University of Florence/University of Paderborn).

Format

A total of twenty talks of 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes discussion are planned. The conference will be in presence. In exceptional cases, online talks will be also considered.

Confirmed Speakers:

Prof. Matthias Neugebauer (Universität Zürich);

Dr. Florian Baab (Universität Münster);

Dr. Charlotte Morel (Universität Lyon, France);

Prof. Dr. Mark Textor (King’s College, London);

Dr. Mirja Hartimo (University of Helsinki);

Prof. Sebastian Luft (Klingler College of Arts & Sciences, Marquette University);

Dr. Robin D. Rollinger (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences);

Dr. Denis Seron (Université de Liège, Belgien);

Prof. Dr. Arnauld Dewalque (Université de Liège, Belgien);

Prof. Dr. Christian Krijnen (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). 

Abstracts in German and English not exceeding 1000 words can be sent to Dr. Michele Vagnetti: [email protected].

Topics include, but not limited to:

(i)              Lotze and his predecessors: Leibniz, Kant, Herbart, Fries, Fechner, E. H. Weber, and others;

(ii)            Lotze and his successors: the influence of Lotze on early analytic philosophy, phenomenology, Neo-Kantianism, philosophy of life, British Idealism, and American philosophy and psychology, and others;

(iii)          Lotze and the natural sciences;

(iv)           Lotze and the cognitive sciences;

(v)             Lotze’s influence on the development of psychology;

(vi)           Lotze’s metaphysics;

(vii)         Lotze’s epistemology and logic;

(viii)       Lotze’s ethics and philosophy of religion.

Deadline for Submission

May 1, 2023

Notification of Acceptance

June 1, 2023