This article revisits the author's 1995 hypertext critical edition of Leibniz's Drôle de pensée (1675), a text which envisions a permanent scientific exposition for the Parisian public, inspired by a demonstration of a water-walking machine Leibniz witnessed on the Seine. A close examination of the manuscript's layout, handwriting, ink variations, and marginal additions reveals that the text was composed in several distinct stages. A new edition is proposed, with an editorial framework that makes these redactional layers explicitly visible. The article situates the Drôle de pensée within the social network of Leibniz's Parisian circles, identifying key figures, institutional models, and functions. It concludes with a reflection on editorial methodology, the obligations critical editions bear towards their readership, and the need for more fluid edition models.
Retour à la Drôle de pensée, suivi d’une morale à l’usage des éditeurs
Enrico Pasini
2026-01-01
Abstract
This article revisits the author's 1995 hypertext critical edition of Leibniz's Drôle de pensée (1675), a text which envisions a permanent scientific exposition for the Parisian public, inspired by a demonstration of a water-walking machine Leibniz witnessed on the Seine. A close examination of the manuscript's layout, handwriting, ink variations, and marginal additions reveals that the text was composed in several distinct stages. A new edition is proposed, with an editorial framework that makes these redactional layers explicitly visible. The article situates the Drôle de pensée within the social network of Leibniz's Parisian circles, identifying key figures, institutional models, and functions. It concludes with a reflection on editorial methodology, the obligations critical editions bear towards their readership, and the need for more fluid edition models.
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