Abstract

The present work aims to offer an interpretation of Wolff’s place in the history of Early Modern Philosophy: we intend to argue that Wolff, relevantly indebted to German university Schulphilosophie, enriches this tradition by incorporating intellectual innovations coming from European modern science. In order to defend this thesis, the essay is divided into two parts. The first is devoted to elucidate Wolff’s conception of philosophy through an analysis of his programmatic “Discursus praeliminaris de philosophia in genere”. After first clarifying Wolff’s conception of philosophy, the second part consists of a reflection on the extent to which German Schulphilosophie and European modern science converge in Wolffian philosophy.