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Single Idea 12907
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 1. Laws of Nature
]
Full Idea
As there exist an infinite number of possible worlds, there exists also an infinite number of laws, some peculiar to one world, some to another, and each individual of any one world contains in the concept of him the laws of his world.
Gist of Idea
Each possible world contains its own laws, reflected in the possible individuals of that world
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1686.06)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'The Leibniz-Arnauld Correspondence', ed/tr. Mason,HT/Parkinson,GHR [Manchester UP 1967], p.43
A Reaction
Since Leibniz's metaphysics is thoroughly God-driven, he will obviously allow God to create any laws He wishes, and hence scientific essentialism seems to be rejected, even though Leibniz is keen on essences. Unless the stuff is different...
The
42 ideas
from 'Letters to Antoine Arnauld'
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15955
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I think the corpuscular theory, rather than forms or qualities, best explains particular phenomena
[Leibniz]
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12903
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Wise people have fewer acts of will, because such acts are linked together
[Leibniz]
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5031
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Everything which happens is not necessary, but is certain after God chooses this universe
[Leibniz]
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5030
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Miracles are extraordinary operations by God, but are nevertheless part of his design
[Leibniz]
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12904
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If varieties of myself can be conceived of as distinct from me, then they are not me
[Leibniz]
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12905
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I cannot think my non-existence, nor exist without being myself
[Leibniz]
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12906
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Truths about species are eternal or necessary, but individual truths concern what exists
[Leibniz]
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13089
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To fully conceive the subject is to explain the resulting predicates and events
[Leibniz]
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12907
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Each possible world contains its own laws, reflected in the possible individuals of that world
[Leibniz]
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13077
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Basic predicates give the complete concept, which then predicts all of the actions
[Leibniz]
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11981
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If someone's life went differently, then that would be another individual
[Leibniz]
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19334
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I can't just know myself to be a substance; I must distinguish myself from others, which is hard
[Leibniz]
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19333
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A truth is just a proposition in which the predicate is contained within the subject
[Leibniz]
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12910
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The predicate is in the subject of a true proposition
[Leibniz]
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12908
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Essences exist in the divine understanding
[Leibniz]
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12913
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Nature is explained by mathematics and mechanism, but the laws rest on metaphysics
[Leibniz]
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12911
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Concepts are what unite a proposition
[Leibniz]
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12912
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Immortality without memory is useless
[Leibniz]
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12909
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Everything, even miracles, belongs to order
[Leibniz]
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12914
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Metaphysics is geometrical, resting on non-contradiction and sufficient reason
[Leibniz]
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12915
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Definitions can only be real if the item is possible
[Leibniz]
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12916
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A body is a unified aggregate, unless it has an indivisible substance
[Leibniz]
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12917
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The soul is indestructible and always self-aware
[Leibniz]
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12918
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Animals have souls, but lack consciousness
[Leibniz]
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12919
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Unity needs an indestructible substance, to contain everything which will happen to it
[Leibniz]
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5032
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It seems probable that animals have souls, but not consciousness
[Leibniz]
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12745
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Philosophy needs the precision of the unity given by substances
[Leibniz]
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12921
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Accidental unity has degrees, from a mob to a society to a machine or organism
[Leibniz]
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12746
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We find unity in reason, and unity in perception, but these are not true unity
[Leibniz]
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12920
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There is no multiplicity without true units
[Leibniz]
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12319
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What is not truly one being is not truly a being either
[Leibniz]
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12704
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Aggregates don’t reduce to points, or atoms, or illusion, so must reduce to substance
[Leibniz]
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5033
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Nothing should be taken as certain without foundations
[Leibniz]
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5034
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Mind is a thinking substance which can know God and eternal truths
[Leibniz]
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12922
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A thing 'expresses' another if they have a constant and fixed relationship
[Leibniz]
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12923
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Every bodily substance must have a soul, or something analogous to a soul
[Leibniz]
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13079
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A substance contains the laws of its operations, and its actions come from its own depth
[Leibniz]
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12924
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Motion alone is relative, but force is real, and establishes its subject
[Leibniz]
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12925
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Beauty increases with familiarity
[Leibniz]
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12927
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Happiness is advancement towards perfection
[Leibniz]
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12926
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Wisdom is the science of happiness
[Leibniz]
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12706
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Bodies need a soul (or something like it) to avoid being mere phenomena
[Leibniz]
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