Physics and metaphysics of the balance

Concrete operation of weighing and the required material resources, balances and weights, emerged and developed in ancient times. Concrete acts of weighing over time came to be reflected in iconography and in texts. In the course of the first two millennia the treatments of weighing in such external representation became increasingly abstract. A spectrum is opened whose extremes are marked by proto-scientific abstraction on the one hand and metaphysical interpretation at the other extreme.

These have traditionally been treated as two completely separate realms. Our aim in this workshop is to narrow down the specific ways in which the balance brings together these two domains. While staying close to the archeological and textual source materials this will allow us to approach the larger issue of the relation of science, the history of science, religion and philosophy.

Due to the limited capacity of the venue, registration is asked for under buettner@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de.

Program