Abstract

In this paper is aproached the Leibnizian project for a General Characteristics. Intended as a instrument to help the limitations and deficiencies of the natural human reason, the General Characteristcs presents itself moreover as a tool for expanding the power of the human thought by adopting and generalizing the methods of the algebraic representation. This goal however entails a difficulty when it is attempted to define with accuracy the extent of the project. At first place appears the problematic relationships that Characteristics maintains with the act of thinking. In our approach is defended the idea that Characterstics expands the power to thinking by improving its ‘semiotical’ nature. Moreover it is raised the issue of the multiplicity of the Characteristics. In fact, Leibniz presents the Caracteristics as a way to resolve a plurality of problems at once, but these many tasks cast serious doubts on the uniqueness of the project, since Leibniz develops actually a plurality of Characteristics. Our response to this issue is that uniqueness can be saved if it is considered the role that the Combinatorial Characteristics or Science of Formulae plays in the project for a General Characteristics