Leibniz: Philosophical Papers, 1677–1686 Universal Language, Characteristic, Logic, Encyclopaedia, and General Science

Lloyd Strickland, Professor of Philosophy and Intellectual History, Manchester Metropolitan University

Lloyd Strickland is Professor of Philosophy and Intellectual History at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). His research focuses on the history of Western philosophy, especially the thought and reception of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, on which he had published many journal articles and numerous books, including Leibniz on Binary: The Invention of Computer Arithmetic (MIT Press, 2022, with Harry Lewis), Leibniz's Key Philosophical Writings: A Guide (Oxford University Press, 2020, with Paul Lodge), Leibniz's Legacy and Impact (Routledge, 2019, with Julia Weckend), and Leibniz's Monadology (Edinburgh University Press, 2014).

AbbreviationsIntroduction1. Leibniz's Life2. Leibniz's Writings3. Overview: Logic, Universal Language, Characteristic, General Science and Encyclopaedia4. About the Volumes, Selections of Texts, Apparatus and Typographical ConventionsLogic, Universal Language, Characteristic1. After So Many Logics, The Logic I Want Has Not Yet Been Written2. Definition3. Empirical Notions4. On the Natural Origin of Languages5. A Dialogue6. Words7. Didactic Method8. On Teaching Languages9. General Language10. Universal Language11. Chrysippus' Heap12. On a Rational Grammar and the Art of Memory13. Paradoxes14. Rational Language15. On Estimating the Uncertain16. Analysis of Languages17. Logical-Grammatical Notes18. Grammatical Thoughts19. Tables. Divisions. Method. Genera and Subaltern Species20. On the Logical Characteristic21. Primitive Propositions22. On a General Analytical Calculus23. On Principles24. Elements for Building a Calculus25. Through the Characteristic, We Can Set Up Experiments in Metaphysics26. Logical Conversion27. What is Prior by Nature28. On Negation29. My Characteristic Requires a New Encyclopaedia30. Elements of a Universal Characteristic31. Elements of a Calculus32. Elements of a Universal Calculus33. Investigations for a Universal Calculus34. A Calculus of Inferences35. A Method of Examining Inferences by Numbers36. Rules for the Validity of Inferences37. Rules from which the Validity of Inferences and the Forms and Moods of Categorical Syllogisms Can Be Judged by Means of Numbers38. Characteristic Numbers Expressed in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew39. On the Universal Characteristic Language and the Art of Discovery40. Reasoning Calculus, or, the Art of Reasoning Easily and Infallibly41. Specimen of the Universal Calculus42. Addenda to Specimen of the Universal Calculus43. Verbal Characteristic44. Whether Ideas Have Parts45. Characteristic46. Giving a Specimen of the Philosophical Language in Geometry47. On Primary and Secondary Syllogistic Moods48. On Mathematically Determining the Forms of Syllogisms49. On the Demonstration of Non-identical Axioms50. Method of Disputing Until the Subject is Exhausted51. On Overcoming an Opponent Quickly52. A Thread for Thinking, or, on Founding a New Logic53. The Synthetic Method, that is, the Art of Ordering Theorems and Problems54. On the Rational Language55. On True and False, Affirmation and Negation, and Contradictories56. General Investigations concerning the Analysis of Notions and Truths57. Specimens of the Rational Calculus58. Demonstration of the Axioms of Identity and Diversity59. Definitions: Alike, Similar, Species, Affection60. A Calculus of Coincidents61. The Composition of One Thing by Another62. Specimen of a Calculus of Coincidents and Inexistents63. Grammatical Analysis for Creating a General Characteristic or Language64. Principles of Human Knowledge65. On the Principles of Contradiction and That There Is Nothing Without a ReasonGeneral Science and Encyclopaedia66. The True Method67. Deleted Remarks on Methods68. On the Art of Discovery in General69. On the Most Excellent Use of the Combinatorial Art, Which Is to Write an Encyclopaedia70. Two Methods of Geometry71. Universal Atlas72. A Society or Order of Charity73. Society of the Friends of God for Celebrating God's Praises and in Opposition to the Atheism Spreading Throughout the World74. On the Organon or Great Art of Thinking75. On the Alphabet of Human Thoughts76. Definitions: Something, Nothing, Substance77. A Plan for a New Encyclopaedia to Be Written Using the Method of Discovery78. On the Combinatorial Art of Discovery79. The Art of Mathematics80. Preface for The Key to Secret Mathematics81. On the Synthetic and Analytic Methods82. On the Usefulness of the Analytic and Synthetic Methods83. Combinatorics84. Elements of Mathesis for the Use of Beginners85. On the Characteristic Art and Analytical or Combinatorial Discoveries in Universal Mathesis86. Definitions: Good, Perfect, Privative87. Formulas for Commands in All the Mechanical Arts Following the Example of Military Commands concerning the Handling of Arms and Evolutions88. Reduction of the Sciences to Figures and Formulas89. Precognita to the Encyclopaedia, that is, to Universal Science90. Directing Studies to Happiness91. Foundations and Specimens of the General Science concerning a New System for the Renewal and Enhancement of the Sciences92. Foundations and Specimens of the General Science concerning the Renewal and Enhancement of the Sciences93. Foundations of the General Science94. Preface for Foundations of the General Science95. Introduction to the General Science96. On the Notions that Form the Basis of Everything We Think About97. On the Literary Republic98. On Joining the Advances of the Ancients with Ours99. Preface for a Work on the Renewal of the Sciences100. On the Elements of Truth101. Mathematical Reflection on the Transformation of Bodies102. Synopsis of Foundations and Specimens of the New General Science103. Foundations and Specimens of the General Science104. A Rule of Discovery105. On the Use of the Combinatorial Art in the General Science106. Idea for a Book Whose Title Will Be New Elements of Universal Mathesis107. On the Division of the Whole World of the Sciences108. Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia109. Short Definition of General Science110. On Universal Synthesis and Analysis, or the Art of Discovery and Judgement (summer 1683 - autumn 1684 (?))111. General Observations112. Division of Terms and Enumeration of Attributes113. Genera of Terms114. Divisions115. A Popular Method of Teaching, and a More Perfect Scientific One116. On the True Perfection of Humankind117. Plus Ultra118. Definitions of Metaphysical and Logical Notions119. New Proposals120. Recommendations for Founding the General Science121. On the Obscuring of Primary Propositions122. The Elements of Universal Truth123. For the Preface to The Elements of Eternal Truth124. The Elements of ReasonBibliographyIndex