Laboratory of Renaissance Philosophy (including its ancient sources and later influences)

This research group focuses on Renaissance philosophy, which we understand not merely within the confines of the epoch but as a distinctive style of thought that aligns with the research interests of its members. This approach relates to the fact that during the Renaissance, modern science began to emerge, distinguishing itself from other contemporary discourses, including philosophical, artistic, and religious debates. The period also draws from earlier ancient sources, leading to the revival of ancient philosophical schools, which significantly expanded the possibilities for contemplating the world. Some key motifs that developed during the Renaissance, particularly ideas about the holistic and organic nature of living reality, continued to influence scientific discourse and remain relevant topics even today.

Our research interests in Renaissance philosophy primarily include Platonism (with figures such as Gemistos Plethon, Nicholas of Cusa, Marsilio Ficino, and Francesco Patrizi), as well as Renaissance astronomy and cosmology (such as Copernicus and Kepler), alchemy, and other scientific disciplines. In relation to antiquity, we explore the concept of "ancient wisdom" and have long studied themes where philosophy, science, and religion intersect, particularly those originating with the pre-Socratics. We also focus on later philosophical and natural scientific concepts that directly or indirectly built upon Renaissance thought (e.g., early modern Platonism, natural philosophy, the Lebensreform movement, and philosophy as a "way of life").

Our work is continually inspired by historians and philosophers who explored these topics in the Czech Republic in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly Zdeněk Neubauer and Zdeněk Horský. Additionally, we draw from the ideas of French epistemology (Bachelard, Koyré, Canguilhem, Foucault, Latour), which emphasizes the historical perspective of philosophy and science and their connections to other disciplines.