Cartesian Networks in Early Modern Europe: A Quantitative and Interdisciplinary Approach

ended

Throughout his life, Descartes experienced a tension between isolation and openness to the world. By his own admission, he left France for the Dutch Republic in search of peace and solitude -- although it has recently been argued that Descartes' political affiliations may also have played a role in his decision to migrate. On the other hand, his groundbreaking views earned him a reputation as an innovator, leading to the creation of a network of Cartesians that was essential in promoting Descartes' philosophy in the Dutch Republic. In recent years, historians have paid increasing attention to the role played by social and intellectual networks in the processes of knowledge creation and dissemination. At the same time, in the last two decades or so, quantitative network analysis has grown to become a full-blown scientific discipline with its own research centres and university courses. Taking advantage of these parallel developments, this project aims to show how the use of techniques and methods developed by network scientists can yield new insights into the structure and dynamics of the network(s) that guaranteed the success of Cartesian philosophy in the Dutch Republic.