Mos geometricus
Mos geometricus is a term from philosophy that elevates the (alleged) approach of Euclidean geometry to the methodological ideal.
The Latin term mos geometricus (geometric method) appears in the 17th century . This method forms the basis of rationalism , according to which reason has the competence to be able to plausibly develop a coherent and convincing solution for everything in the world.
With this ideal of accuracy, everything that cannot actually be formulated exactly is to be represented as precisely as geometry does it strictly mathematically.
The Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza gave his main work, written in 1677, the Latin title Ethica, ordine geometrico demonstrata ( ethics, presented according to the geometric method ) in order to mark his special way of philosophical presentation and argumentation.
The geometrical-mathematical method was also used in jurisprudence, in the natural law of the early modern period, the law of reason . By means of deduction one attempted to derive the individual legal propositions from axioms , general principles. The main representatives of this method were Samuel Pufendorf , Christian Wolff and Johann Gottlieb Heineccius .
literature
- Hans Werner Arndt: Methodo scientifica pertractatum. Mos geometricus and the term calculus in philosophical theory formation in the 17th and 18th centuries. Berlin, New York 1971.
- M. Herberger: Mos geometricus, mos mathematicus , in: Hand Wortbuch zur deutschen Rechtsgeschichte III (1984) Sp. 698 ff.