The House is in a State: Christian Wolff's Oeconomica in the context of public welfare

by Antonia Karaisl von Karais

Overview

The book focuses on methodology, argument and context of 18^th century philosopher Christian Wolff’s last book, the Oeconomica. This work, a rationalist guide to household morality, is discussed in conjunction with Wolff's natural law-based welfare state theory. A case study at a cross-section of philosophy, political science and history, it dissects the ideological conflation of private and public interest in the absolutist state.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110713923
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	01/18/2021
Series:	Maecenata Schriften , #19
Pages:	229
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.45(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Antonia Karaisl von Karais, Warburg Institute, University of London (UK)

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

1. Introduction

1.1. The reception of Wolffian philosophy

1.2. Wolff's Oeconomica in the literary context

1.3. Research question and methodology

Chapter 2

2. The hallmarks of Wolffian philosophy

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Wolff's scientific method

2.2.1. Wolff's method in context

2.2.2. Demonstrative morality

2.3. Wolff's philosophical system

2.3.1. The concept of system in context

2.3.2. Wolff's system in practice

2.4. Wolff's natural law

2.4.1. Wolffian natural law in the historical context

2.4.2. Natural law as a theoretical foundation for moral philosophy

Chapter 3

3. A contextual reading of the Oeconomica methodo scientifica petractata

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Oeconomica – methodo scientifica pertractata

3.2.1. Truth, non-contradiction and household wisdom

3.2.2. A house built on sufficient reasons

3.2.3. Sources of knowledge in the Oeconomica – empirical, rational, practical

3.3. Oeconomica in the philosophical system

3.3.1. Crosspollination in the systema doctrinarum

3.3.2. The household as a structural liability

3.4. Natural law in the Oeconomica

3.4.1. A contractual reading of family life

3.4.2. Reconciling reason and religion

3.4.3. Natural law beyond the home turf

3.5. Summary

Chapter 4

4. Oeconomica, natural law and social welfare in the absolutist state

4.1. Introduction

4.2. The theoretical foundation of social welfare in Wolff's natural law

4.2.1. The contract as a legitimising fiction

4.2.2. Patrimonial welfare: moral duty with an ulterior motive

4.3. State education in philosophy and reality

4.3.1. Non scholae sed vitae – pedagogy in education

4.3.2. Universityies: theory in practice

4.4. Preserving prosperity, providing for the poor

4.4.1. Economic sustainability in the household

4.4.2. The case for state-managed poor relief

4.5. Public Health

4.5.1. Keeping the healthy healthy

4.5.2. A priori medicine contra institutional innovation

4.6. Summary

Chapter 5

5. Michael Hanov's completion of the Wolffian system

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Hanov: From independent scholar to wavering Wolffian

5.2.1. Hanov's intellectual background

5.2.2. Congruences and dissonances between Hanov and Wolff

5.3. Hanov's Oeconomica – method, system, natural law

5.3.1. Method

5.3.2. System

5.3.3. Natural Law

5.4. Hanov versus Wolff – political systems in comparison

5.4.1. Legitimacy, power and levels of administration

5.4.2. Social welfare programmes in contrast

5.5. Summary

　

Chapter 6

6. Conclusion

Bibliography