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Single Idea 12777

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

Full Idea

Monads do not constitute a complete composite substance, since they make up, not something one per se, but only a mere aggregate, unless some substantial chain is added.

Gist of Idea

Monads do not make a unity unless a substantial chain is added to them

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Des Bosses [1715], 1712.05.26)

Book Ref

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.201

A Reaction

This is the clearest statement in the Des Bosses letters of the need for something extra to unite monads. Since the main role of monads was to replace substances, which are only postulated to provide unity, this is rather a climb-down.

Related Ideas

Idea 12753 A substantial bond of powers is needed to unite composites, in addition to monads [Leibniz]

Idea 12774 Without a substantial chain to link monads, they would just be coordinated dreams [Leibniz]

Idea 12778 There is active and passive power in the substantial chain and in the essence of a composite [Leibniz]

The 24 ideas with the same theme [minimal purposeful units as basic to existence]:

19405 Substances are in harmony, because they each express the one reality in themselves [Leibniz]
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]
19363 Changes in a monad come from an internal principle, and the diversity within its substance [Leibniz]
19352 A 'monad' has basic perception and appetite; a 'soul' has distinct perception and memory [Leibniz]
19377 A monad and its body are living, so life is everywhere, and comes in infinite degrees [Leibniz]
5044 Reality must be made of basic unities, which will be animated, substantial points [Leibniz]
5060 All substances analyse down to simple substances, which are souls, or 'monads' [Leibniz]
13174 A piece of flint contains something resembling perceptions and appetites [Leibniz]
13175 Entelechies are analogous to souls, as other minds are analogous to our own minds [Leibniz]
19385 All simply substances are in harmony, because they all represent the one universe [Leibniz]
12747 Monads are not extended, but have a kind of situation in extension [Leibniz]
12748 Only monads are substances, and bodies are collections of them [Leibniz]
12774 Without a substantial chain to link monads, they would just be coordinated dreams [Leibniz]
12777 Monads do not make a unity unless a substantial chain is added to them [Leibniz]
12782 Monads control nothing outside of themselves [Leibniz]
7565 Leibniz proposes monads, since there must be basic things, which are immaterial in order to have unity [Leibniz, by Jolley]
14869 If some sort of experience is at the root of matter, then human knowledge is close to its essence [Nietzsche]
21226 Husserl sees the ego as a monad, unifying presence, sense and intentional acts [Husserl, by Velarde-Mayol]
12695 Epicurean atomists say body is sensible, to distinguish it from space. [Garber]
21105 In 1676 it was discovered that water is teeming with life [Krauss]
21453 Leibnizian monads qualify as Kantian noumena [Gardner]