In Leibniz’s thought, the concept of analysis is a very fundamental one. It concerns both his research about the institution of a general science and his mathematical achievement regarding infinitesimal calculus. In the attempt of establishing the outline of a general logical calculus, Leibniz comes to face up with the problem of modality, that he tries to solve inside his conception of truth, according to which every truth is analytic. The formal outcome he obtained shows some similarities with the development of the early ideas of theory of computation, especially by Turing. From an enough abstract point of view, it is possible to establish a parallel between Leibniz and Turing and consider how and in what sense the consequences of Turing’s theoretical achievements are similar to some epistemological consequences of Leibniz’s logical achievements, in order to get further insight into the problematic but very interesting question of Leibniz’s natural machines.

The Analysis in Leibniz: Calculus, Contingency and Natural Machines. A Heuristic Parallel With Turing's Work

BIANCHINI, FRANCESCO
2011

Abstract

In Leibniz’s thought, the concept of analysis is a very fundamental one. It concerns both his research about the institution of a general science and his mathematical achievement regarding infinitesimal calculus. In the attempt of establishing the outline of a general logical calculus, Leibniz comes to face up with the problem of modality, that he tries to solve inside his conception of truth, according to which every truth is analytic. The formal outcome he obtained shows some similarities with the development of the early ideas of theory of computation, especially by Turing. From an enough abstract point of view, it is possible to establish a parallel between Leibniz and Turing and consider how and in what sense the consequences of Turing’s theoretical achievements are similar to some epistemological consequences of Leibniz’s logical achievements, in order to get further insight into the problematic but very interesting question of Leibniz’s natural machines.
2011
Natur und Subjekt
69
78
F. Bianchini
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/105843
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