Single Idea 19404

[catalogued under 2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 1. Laws of Thought]

Full Idea

The principle of contradiction is the principle of necessity, and the principle that a sufficient reason must be given is the principle of contingency.

Gist of Idea

Necessities rest on contradiction, and contingencies on sufficient reason

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (On Sufficient Reason [1686], p.95)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Leibniz Selections', ed/tr. Wiener,Philip P. [Scribners 1951], p.95


A Reaction

[this paragraph is actually undated] Contradictions occur in concrete actuality, as well as in theories and formal systems. If so, then there are necessities in nature. Are they discoverable a posteriori? Leibniz says not.

Related Idea

Idea 19661 Making sufficient reason an absolute devalues the principle of non-contradiction [Hegel, by Meillassoux]