2019/20: Nature
The oldest reflections on forces can be found in meditations on nature (imbued with divinity or numinosity). In order to address the modelling of natural forces, fellows working in the fields of philosophy, the history of science, biology, literary studies, and art history will contribute to the discussion: Approaches focused on the theory of science will examine crucial phases of change in the conception of forces, while questions concerning the history of science will explore internal contradictions and disturbances, as well as visual and rhetorical patterns of order. Moreover, theatrical, literary and artistic examinations of the forces of nature, which in turn are closely related to the emergence of new fields of knowledge, are also taken into account.