Leibniz: Philosophical Papers, 1677–1686

This volume brings together 124 of Leibniz's writings on some of his most distinctive and ambitious projects including developing a new logic or art of discovery as a tool for uncovering new truths; creating a universal language with a rational, philosophical grammar structured to reflect human reasoning; designing a symbolic script (the characteristic) to facilitate discoveries across all fields of knowledge; planning an encyclopaedia in which existing knowledge would be systematically arranged to yield new insights; and advancing his vision of a collaborative, higher­order science (the general science) that would encompass the foundational principles of all other sciences.

The writings in this volume trace the evolution and interconnection of these projects during Leibniz's formative first decade in Hanover (1677–1686), and is the most extensive collection of such writings in English to date. Strickland has returned to Leibniz's original manuscripts to produce accurate, carefully annotated translations that document textual variations, deletions, and marginalia. Of the 124 texts included, 86 appear here in English for the first time, while five have never been published in any language.

In addition to the translations, the volume features a substantial introductory essay on Leibniz's life, work, and writings on a universal language, the characteristic, logic, the encyclopaedia, and general science from 1677 to 1686, along with detailed explanatory notes on each text, providing context, background, and the rationale for their dating.