Аннотация: I wrote for them, but they refused: Science and Philosophy - Shared History, Diverging Paths? (25-26 July , 2025, Leibniz University, Germany)
I
The relationship between philosophy and science has been a dynamic interplay of ideas, methods, and objectives across history. In the Western canon, few figures exemplify this synthesis as profoundly as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), whose work bridged metaphysical inquiry and scientific innovation. This essay examines Leibniz"s contributions to the philosophy-science nexus, focusing on his methodological approaches, his concept of pre-established harmony, and his mathematical advancements, situating them within the broader historical context of the Scientific Revolution and comparing them to contemporary perspectives.
Leibniz"s integration of philosophy and science, offering novel insights into their mutual enrichment and proposing practical applications for interdisciplinary approaches in modern philosophy of science.
Keywords: Leibniz, philosophy, science, pre-established harmony, calculus, rationalism, empiricism.
II
Leibniz"s philosophy was deeply intertwined with the emerging scientific paradigms of his time. Unlike Descartes, who posited a dualistic separation of mind and body (Descartes 1984: 21), Leibniz proposed the doctrine of pre-established harmony, which reconciled metaphysical and physical realms. He argued that God had created substances (monads) such that their individual actions align perfectly with the universe"s causal order without direct interaction (Leibniz 1989: 209). This concept allowed Leibniz to integrate philosophical theology with mechanistic science, offering a framework where divine purpose coexisted with empirical inquiry. For instance, his monadology provided a metaphysical foundation for understanding physical phenomena as expressions of non-physical substances, a stark contrast to the materialist tendencies of contemporaries like Newton (Newton 1999: 943).
Leibniz"s methodological approach further exemplifies his synthesis of philosophy and science. He advocated for a rationalist epistemology, emphasizing the role of a priori reasoning in scientific discovery. In his New Essays on Human Understanding, Leibniz critiqued Locke"s empiricism, arguing that innate ideas and logical principles underpin scientific knowledge (Leibniz 1996: 48). Yet, he was not dismissive of empirical methods; his work on dynamics, particularly his concept of vis viva (living force), anticipated modern notions of kinetic energy and relied on experimental observations (Leibniz 1989: 296). This dual commitment to rationalism and empiricism distinguished Leibniz from both the purely deductive rationalists and the inductive empiricists of his era, such as Bacon (Bacon 2000: 36).
III
Mathematically, Leibniz"s co-invention of calculus (alongside Newton) revolutionized scientific inquiry. His notation for differential and integral calculus, still in use today, facilitated advancements in physics and engineering (Leibniz 1969: 282). Unlike Newton"s focus on physical applications, Leibniz viewed calculus as a tool for metaphysical inquiry, enabling precise descriptions of change and continuity in both physical and abstract domains. This dual application underscores his belief that philosophy and science share a common goal: to uncover universal truths through rigorous methods.
Comparing Leibniz"s approach to contemporary perspectives, his integration of philosophy and science prefigures modern interdisciplinary fields like the philosophy of physics. While today"s philosophy of science often focuses on specific disciplines (e.g., philosophy of biology), Leibniz"s holistic approach sought to unify all knowledge under a single rational system (Leibniz 1989: 227). However, contemporary philosophy sometimes critiques science"s reductionist tendencies, echoing Leibniz"s insistence on metaphysical grounding (Chalmers 2013: 12). Yet, unlike Leibniz, modern philosophers rarely invoke theological frameworks, reflecting a secular shift in the philosophy-science dialogue.
Leibniz"s legacy highlights the potential for philosophy and science to mutually inform each other. His pre-established harmony, rationalist-empiricist synthesis, and mathematical innovations demonstrate a model where philosophical reflection guides scientific inquiry, and empirical discoveries enrich metaphysical understanding. In an era where philosophy and science often appear disconnected, Leibniz"s work serves as a reminder of their shared roots and complementary aims.