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Wolff, Christian, and Early Modern Thought

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Encyclopedia of Early Modern Philosophy and the Sciences

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Introduction

Christian Wolff (Breslau 1679–Halle 1754) was the leading figure of German academic philosophy in the first half of the eighteenth century and one of the most systematic thinkers of all times. A philosopher, mathematician, and natural and experimental scientist, Wolff contributed to shaping the modern system of knowledge and scientific disciplines by investigating the relations between – and the metaphysical foundations of – reason and experience, theory and practice, pure and applied science, and philosophical and commonsensical notions.

Life

After gymnasium in Breslau, Wolff studied theology and mathematics in Jena (1699–1702) and then habilitated in Leipzig with a dissertation on practical philosophy (1703). In December 1704, he wrote to Leibniz, presenting himself as an aspiring mathematician and philosopher in search of a mentor. Leibniz was responsive and recommended Wolff for academic positions at Giessen and Halle. In 1707, Wolff was appointed as a professor of...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy

    Matteo Favaretti Camposampiero

Authors
  1. Matteo Favaretti Camposampiero
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Correspondence to Matteo Favaretti Camposampiero .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Dana Jalobeanu

  2. Dept. of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University Dept. Philosophy & Moral Sci, Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

    Charles T. Wolfe

Section Editor information

  1. Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Dana Jalobeanu

  2. Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Sarton Centre for History of Science, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Charles T. Wolfe

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Favaretti Camposampiero, M. (2019). Wolff, Christian, and Early Modern Thought. In: Jalobeanu, D., Wolfe, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Early Modern Philosophy and the Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20791-9_503-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20791-9_503-1

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