University of Groningen. The force of dialectics Glimmerveen, Cornelis Harm

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1 University of Groningen The force of dialectics Glimmerveen, Cornelis Harm IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 1992 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Glimmerveen, C. H. (1992). The force of dialectics: on the logical and ontological structures concerning the concepts of force in Leibniz, Kant, and Hegel Groningen: s.n. Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. Download date:

2 i C.H.Glimmerveen THE FORCE OF DIALECTICS (on the Logical and Ontological Structures Concerning the Concepts of Force in Leibniz, Kant, and Hegel.)

3 ii RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT TE GRONINGEN THE FORCE OF DIALECTICS On the Logical and Ontological Structures Concerning the Concepts of Force in Leibniz, Kant, and Hegel PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van het doctoraat in de Wijsbegeerte aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen op gezag van de Rector Magnificus, Dr.S.K.Kuipers in het openbaar te verdedigen op donderdag 18 juni 1992 des namiddags te 4.00 uur door Cornelis Harm Glimmerveen geboren op 13 november 1958 te Ferwerd (Frl.)

4 iii Eerste promotor: Prof. Dr. H. H. Holz Tweede promotor: Prof. Dr. J. D. North Eerste referent: Dr. D.Pätzold

5 iv Theses. 1. From the philosophical point of view the Big-Bang-theory is no less problematic than the biblical account of the Creation. 2. In order to link up with modern science philosophy of nature should have at its disposal a formalised system of dialectics which is linked with the system of formal logic. 3. Contrary to what is suggested by the title "Dialectiek als open systeem" (Bartels, e.a. Groningen 1985) the system of dialectics can only have a surplus value as compared to formal logic if the system of dialectics would be structurally closed where the system of formal logic is structurally open, viz. at the beginning (first axiom) and ending (final basic derivations); this on the condition that a) dialectics is conceived as a system of interrelated totality, b) totality is a possibly infinite but essentially limited whole. 4. From a scientific point of view analytic judgments concerning religion and related topics (such as magic rituals, sorcerers, etc.) in pre-history are redundant, and synthetic judgments are unscientific; the subject, which is frequently presented, should therefore be refused admittance into serious scientific debate. 5. Maintaining the right of freedom of thought and of speech implies the necessity to forbid the utterance of conceptions such as religious and other dogma s which claim absolute truth exclusively for themselves and which thereby essentially deny right of existence to all other conceptions; in other words: real freedom of thought and of speech presupposes universal acknowledgement of the fact that truth can only be known relatively. 6. In the interest of their own (social, political, economic, and cultural) development developmental aid to so-called developing countries should be stopped. 7. The relation between the literary forms of poetry and prose is complementary and can be described as follows: in poetry meaning is condensed into a whole which must expand to become understood, in prose meaning is expanded into a whole which must condense to be understood - poetry which has been understood becomes prosaic, prose which has been understood becomes poetic.

6 ii CIRKEL EN MIDDELPUNT De puntjes waar een cirkel uit bestond gesticuleerden luid. Ondanks gebaar en zelfs gegluur zag niemand verder dan zijn buur. Wel deed aldoor het nieuws de ronde dat er ook anderen bestonden, zelfs dat er een buiten hun lijn het oerpunt van t heelal moest zijn. Elk puntje wou dat punt graag vinden om zich daar dan mee te verbinden. Zodat eentje hun lijn verbrak en zigzag zoekend overstak. De rest zwalkte maar achter hem aan en t middelpunt was naar de maan. MORAAL Wee wie het warme bed verlaat in de stap van droom tot daad. OF Probeer vooral niet te bewegen, want daar kan logica niet tegen. (Leo Vroman, "Huis en tuin")

7 iii [translation: CIRCLE AND CENTRE A few points on a circle knew they must be more - at least a few for each of their two neighbors had one of their own - or so they said. Then, with improved communication, they felt they were a Whole Creation. They wondered if a common bond came from some Point that lay beyond. They felt this Source that kept them round must be thanked and must be found. One point worked itself free and zigzagged across their inland sea. The others followed and roamed on till circle and centre both were gone. MORAL: Don t search for dreams but stay instead where they come from: right in bed. or: Don t move to prove that you re alive because your logic won t survive. (translated by the author, for C.H. Glimmerveen)

8 iv C O N T E N T Introduction (notes to the introduction) DIVISION 1 : Leibniz. Physics and Metaphysical Foundations concerning the concept of force Part 1. Historical exposition Chapter 1. The general outline of the relation between physics and metaphysics section 1. On the amendment of first philosophy and the notion of substance section 2. A specimen of dynamics section 3. New system section 4. Conclusions chapter 2. Metaphysical explanations section 1. Leibniz s clarifications of the concepts of substance and representation section 2. Force and action Part 2. Systematic exposition Chapter 3. The structure of Leibniz s system section 1. Foundation section 2. Force in Leibniz s system Chapter 4. The logical structures in Leibniz s system section 1. Logical structures concerning the complete substance section 2. The logical structure concerning force (notes to division 1)

9 DIVISION 2: Kant. Metaphysical concepts and logic concerning force Part 1. Historical exposition chapter 5. The physical outset: force and motion section 1. The true estimation of living forces section 2. General history of nature and theory of the heavens section 3. A new theorem concerning motion and rest section 4. Conclusions Chapter 6. The metaphysical and logical concepts section 1. A new clarification of the first principles of metaphysics section 2. The monadology section 3. The only possible ground of proof to demonstrate God s existence section 4. On mathematics in metaphysics section 5. Conclusions Part 2. Systematic exposition Chapter 7. Kant s ontological system section 1. External interaction and the evolution of the universe section 2. Internality and the ultimate ground of existence section 3. Mediation and matter section 4. Opposition and contradiction section 5. Conclusions Chapter 8. Kant versus Leibniz section 1. Motion, monads, and mediation section 2. Identity and non-identity (notes to division 2) DIVISION 3: Hegel. The force of dialectics v

10 vi Part 1. Exposition Chapter 9. Force in Hegel s philosophy of nature section 1. Space, time, and motion section 2. Matter and force Chapter 10. Force in Hegel s Logic section 1. Method: motion of the Notion section 2. The Logic section 3. The structure of the logic of the Essence section 4. The logical place of force section 5. Conclusions Part 2. Comparisons and final conclusions Chapter 11. Hegel versus Kant versus Leibniz section 1. Hegel versus Leibniz section 2. Hegel versus Kant Chapter 12. General conclusions and perspectives (notes to division 3) epilogue bibliography summary zusammenfassung samenvatting