CFP: Libori Summer School 2025 - The Early Works of Émilie Du Châtelet

8 – 12 September 2025
REGISTER HERE

We are excited to announce the Libori Summer School 2025, dedicated to exploring the early works of Émilie Du Châtelet, one of the most influential women in the history of philosophy and science.

Led by Prof. Dr. Ruth Edith Hagengruber and organized by Dr. Jil Muller with the  support of Felix Grewe the  Summer School invites students (of all stages) from around the world to engage in a collaborative, in-depth exploration of Du Châtelet’s early writings and intellectual legacy.

This year’s program offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the first digital and historical-critical edition of Du Châtelet’s early manuscripts—produced in collaboration with the National Library of Russia, Saint Petersburg. These texts, rich with philosophical insight and annotated by Du Châtelet herself, reveal how her thought shaped and was shaped by the major metaphysical debates of her time.

Curious about Enlightenment debates on liberty and free will? Eager to explore Du Châtelet’s interpretation of Mandeville’s ethics? Interested in the intersections of natural philosophy and sciences, and in the exploration of Du Châtelet’s thoughts about Newtons’ theory of light and colors?

The Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists warmly invites applications to its 2025 Libori Summer School—a weeklong immersion into the groundbreaking philosophical and scientific work of Émilie Du Châtelet, one of the Enlightenment’s most interesting intellects.

Application deadline: August 15, 2025

Exams (ETCS credits) possible with in-person participation and hybrid participation (see Application details below).

Regular registration for attendence can be found here.

Join a vibrant international community of students to study and discuss key themes in Du Châtelet’s early writings, including:

• Monday, 8 September 2025: The nature of liberty and free will: Chapter 5 On Liberty
• Tuesday, 9 September 2025: Enlightenment perspectives on ethics and moral theory: Commentary on Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees
• Wednesday, 10 September 2025: The foundations of natural philosophy: Chapter 4 On the Formation of Colours
• Thursday, 11 September 2025: On language and ontology: Chapter 6 On Grammar
• Friday, 12 September 2025:On metaphysics, eternity, immortality of the soul and an eternal being: Treatise on Metaphysics

This year’s program offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the first digital and historical-critical edition of Du Châtelet’s early manuscripts—produced in collaboration with the National Library of Russia, Saint Petersburg. These texts, rich with philosophical insight and annotated by Du Châtelet herself, reveal how her thought shaped and was shaped by the major metaphysical debates of her time.

What to Expect:

• Expert-led sessions on Du Châtelet’s early works, including her writings on liberty, metaphysics, natural philosophy and ethics
• Keynote-Sessions by renowned scholars: Viridiana Platas Benitez, Bryce Gessell, Ruth. E Hagengruber, Julia Jorati, Eszter Kovács, Ulla Kölving, Fritz Nagel, Katarina Peixoto, Pedro Pricladnitzky, Ana Rodrigues, and Judith Zinsser.
• Hands-on access to digital manuscript editions
• Student-led presentations and workshops in a collaborative, supportive atmosphere
• Opportunities for critical discussion, networking, and engagement with leading scholars

Application Details:

We welcome applications from students with a keen interest in early modern philosophy, Enlightenment thought, or the history of science. To apply for the student sessions, please submit:

• An updated CV (max. 1 pages)
• A committed analysis of 1000 words on at least one of the above mentioned topics (Liberty /Mandeville / Colours / Grammar / Metaphysics). This paper will be discussed during the Libori Summer school’s students session.

Please submit your documents via our mail:
[email protected]

Important Notes:

• Application deadline: August 15, 2025
• Working knowledge of English is essential; some French is helpful
• A background in early modern philosophy is expected