Emilie Du Châtelet's Theoretical Philosophy in Context

CALL FOR PAPERS

Émilie Du Châtelet’s Theoretical Philosophy in Context

21-22 March 2025

School of Philosophy

University College Dublin

Organiser:

Christian Henkel

[email protected]

Émilie Du Châtelet’s (1706–1749) theoretical philosophy is a fascinating topic. In the Institutions de physique (1740/42), she develops her own independent, foundationalist metaphysics that serves to ground a physics that is at the height of her time. In so doing she does take inspiration from thinkers such as Descartes, Leibniz, and Wolff. Among other things, she argues for the existence of simple beings, a mechanist conception of the world that includes the concept of force, she explains matter and motion and the foundational principles of a metaphysical science of nature. Recent years have seen a rise in Du Châtelet scholarship. While she finally seems to get the recognition she deserves, many questions about her theoretical philosophy remain open. Further, a greater degree of contextualisation of her thought would be equally desirable. The overarching goal of this two-day conference is to study Du Châtelet’s theoretical philosophy in context.

The aims of the conference are as follows:

(i) to examine Du Châtelet’s metaphysics from a variety of different perspectives;

(ii) to rethink existing narratives about Du Châtelet’s theoretical philosophy and its place in the history of philosophy

(iii) to contextualise her metaphysics in light of her key influences, such as (but not limited to) Descartes, Leibniz, and Wolff.

(iv) to strengthen the role of new narratives in the history of philosophy by focusing on Du Châtelet as a key author.

(v) to foster interaction and future collaboration among graduate students, junior, mid-career, and senior academics in the field.

Possible topics for papers include, but are not restricted to:

• Du Châtelet’s ontology

• Du Châtelet’s approach to metaphysics

• The role of the Principle of (Non-)Contradiction and the Principle of Sufficient Reason

• The metaphysics of Descartes, Leibniz, and Wolff, and their role for understanding to Du Châtelet’s own independent metaphysics

• Du Châtelet’s account of causation, mechanism, and/or teleology

• simple and composite beings

• grounding

• conceptions of Nature

• the role of God and the aim of naturalizing metaphysics

• time and space

• action theory

Confirmed Invited speakers: Prof Karen Detlefsen (University of Pennsylvania); Prof Jeffrey McDonough (Harvard University); Prof François Duchesneau (Université de Montréal).

If you would like to give a paper (30min + 15min q&a), please send an abstract of max. 500 words excluding references prepared for blind review to [email protected]. Please include details about your current position and affiliation in the email. The deadline is 15 December, 23:59h CET. Decisions will be made and sent out in early January.

If we receive external funding for this conference, two small travel stipends will be available for early career researchers (PhDs, early career researchers up to 5 years after their PhD) with limited or no travel funding. If you like to be considered, please indicate this in your email. The two best abstracts of early career researchers qualify and will be notified.