Workshop
Intellectual networks in the 17th Century
The correspondence of Elisabeth Princess Palatine
(LMU Munich, Friday 8th - Saturday 9th July 2011)
Intellectual networks, which are primarily constituted through the medium of the letter,
played a central role in the philosophical discourse of the 17th Century.
Elisabeth Princess Palatine (1618-1680) was part of such a network through
which she exchanged thoughts with educated men and women across Europe and was
in touch with many religious thinkers. Her correspondence serves as a starting
point for the interdisciplinary discussion of the workshop (What role do spiritualistic
philosophers and thinkers of the early modern period play within this context,
such as Johann Georg Gichtel, Quirin Kuhlmann and Antoinette de Bourignon?).
Further, since the study of such networks will require new methods within the history of
philosophy some of these new approaches (such as Constellation research, actor-network theory)
are going to be discussed.
The Workshop is committed to supporting collaborative and individual research. Especially postdoctoral scholars and doctoral students will have an opportunity to discuss their research.
Following issues will be discussed here:
- The letter as a means of communication for scholars in the early modern period
- History of Philosophy and female thinkers: Methods and problems
- Philosophical and religious currents in the 17 Century
- Elisabeth Princess Palatine in the context of her intellectual networks