The Philosophical Writings, Vol. I

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Among the great problems that Leibniz pursued throughout his entire life, from the very beginnings of his scientific endeavors, is the Universal Science original: "Scientia universalis" or, as he later called it, the General Science original: "Scientia generalis" in connection with the Real Characteristic A "Real Characteristic" (Characteristica realis) was Leibniz's vision for a universal language of symbols that would represent concepts directly, allowing humans to "calculate" truths like mathematical equations.. On a small slip of paper in later years, he noted the following definition:

By General Science I understand that which contains the principles of all others, and the method of using those principles so that anyone—even if endowed with only average talent—once they descend to any specific subjects, might be able through easy reflection and brief experience to understand even the most difficult things and discover the most beautiful truths and the most useful practices, as far as is possible from what has been given to man. It must therefore deal both with the method of thinking well—that is, of discovery, of judgment, of governing the emotions, of retaining and remembering—and also with the elements of the entire Encyclopedia, and the investigation of the Highest Good original: "summi Boni", for the sake of which all meditation is undertaken; for wisdom is nothing other than the science of happiness. original Latin: "Scientiam Generalem intelligo, quae caeterarum omnium principia continet... est enim nihil aliud sapientia quam scientia felicitatis."

Leibniz always conceived of the General Science—that is, the clear presentation of the elements of the sciences—in the closest connection with the Real Characteristic, never wanting to treat the latter on its own. This was intended to provide the means, with the help of the fundamental concepts of the sciences, to promote the cultivation of the mind in general and the perfection of the sciences through discovery