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Space Conceived by the Eighteenth Century Europeans

Research Project

Project/Area Number 59490020
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field 広領域
Research InstitutionKyoto University

Principal Investigator

HIGUCHI Kinichi  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 教授 (80027523)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) JINNO Takashi  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 助手 (90162825)
ASADA Akira  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 助手 (90151026)
TOMINAGA Shigeki  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 助教授 (30145213)
SAKAGAMI Takashi  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 助教授 (70047166)
YAMADA Keiji  The Research Institute for Humanistic Studies, Kyoto University, 人文科学研究所, 教授 (10027542)
Project Period (FY) 1984 – 1985
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1985)
Budget Amount *help
¥5,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1985: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 1984: ¥4,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,600,000)
KeywordsConception of space / History of the eighteenth century thought / システム
Research Abstract

While the Renaissance is the age of intricate harmony and 19th century is the age of infinite growth, the 17th and 18th centuries are the age of static systems spread out in open space. Through the investigations of 18th century Europeans' conception of space in various aspects ( natural, social and symbolic ), this interdisciplinary research project has brought into relief the episteme of that age.
1-(1) In the 17th century, space is conceived as unitary and homogeneous, but in the 18th century, it becomes manifold and heterogeneous. The former is represented by Newton's space, the latter by Dideot's. (2) In the 17th century, system is conceived as a rigid structure which externally combines its elements, but in the 18th century, it is replaced by a network of internal relations found between various elements. The former if represented by Descartes' system, the latter by Montesquieu's. (3) Those transformations are decisive for the formation of the modern world view, because for the first time they make it possible to take into account the concrete variety of the world. We can no longer regard the 17th century as the decisive moment for the modernization and the 18th century only as its idle follower.
2-(1) The space in the 18th century, however, is in a highly unstable equilibrium. Since the end of the century, it is involved into the spiral movement along time. (2) At that turning point, we find the "explosion of space" exemplified by Napoleon's empire or by the megalomaniac architecture of the "visionaries". It is after the extreme expansion that the space goes into the temporal movement.

Report

(1 results)
  • 1985 Final Research Report Summary
  • Research Products

    (2 results)

All Other

All Publications (2 results)

  • [Publications] 樋口 謹一(編): "空間の世紀" 筑摩書房, 366 (1988)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1985 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] HIGUCHI Kinichi (ed.): Chikuma Publishing Company. The Century of the Space, 366 (1988)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1985 Final Research Report Summary

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Published: 1987-03-31   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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