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Single Idea 11857

[filed under theme 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 6. Fundamentals / c. Monads ]

Full Idea

In the end Leibniz dethroned Aristotelian continuants, seen as imperfect from his point of view, in favour of monads.

Gist of Idea

He replaced Aristotelian continuants with monads

Source

report of Gottfried Leibniz (Monadology [1716]) by David Wiggins - Sameness and Substance Renewed 3.1

Book Ref

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance Renewed' [CUP 2001], p.85

A Reaction

I take the 'continuants' to be either the 'ultimate subject of predication' (in 'Categories'), or 'essences' (in 'Metaphysics'). Since monads seem to be mental (presumably to explain the powers of things), this strikes me as a bit mad.

The 19 ideas from 'Monadology'

7644 The monad idea incomprehensibly spiritualises matter, instead of materialising soul [La Mettrie on Leibniz]
11857 He replaced Aristotelian continuants with monads [Leibniz, by Wiggins]
7843 Is a drop of urine really an infinity of thinking monads? [Voltaire on Leibniz]
12751 It is unclear in 'Monadology' how extended bodies relate to mind-like monads. [Garber on Leibniz]
7931 If a substance is just a thing that has properties, it seems to be a characterless non-entity [Leibniz, by Macdonald,C]
12707 The true elements are atomic monads [Leibniz]
17554 There must be some internal difference between any two beings in nature [Leibniz]
19363 Changes in a monad come from an internal principle, and the diversity within its substance [Leibniz]
2109 Increase a conscious machine to the size of a mill - you still won't see perceptions in it [Leibniz]
19352 A 'monad' has basic perception and appetite; a 'soul' has distinct perception and memory [Leibniz]
2110 We all expect the sun to rise tomorrow by experience, but astronomers expect it by reason [Leibniz]
19362 We know the 'I' and its contents by abstraction from awareness of necessary truths [Leibniz]
2111 Falsehood involves a contradiction, and truth is contradictory of falsehood [Leibniz]
4642 No fact can be real and no proposition true unless there is a Sufficient Reason (even if we can't know it) [Leibniz]
2112 Truths of reason are known by analysis, and are necessary; facts are contingent, and their opposites possible [Leibniz]
9344 Mathematical analysis ends in primitive principles, which cannot be and need not be demonstrated [Leibniz]
2113 God alone (the Necessary Being) has the privilege that He must exist if He is possible [Leibniz]
2114 This is the most perfect possible universe, in its combination of variety with order [Leibniz]
2115 Everything in the universe is interconnected, so potentially a mind could know everything [Leibniz]