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Full Idea
To say that, in creation, God gave bodies a law for acting means nothing, unless, at the same time, he gave them something by means of which it could happen that the law is followed.
Gist of Idea
God's laws would be meaningless without internal powers for following them
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (On Body and Force, Against the Cartesians [1702], p.253)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.253
A Reaction
This is the beginning of the modern rebellion against the medieval view of laws as imposed from outside on passive matter. Unfortunately for Leibniz, once you have postulated active internal powers, the external laws become redundant.
| 13193 | Active force is not just potential for action, since it involves a real effort or striving [Leibniz] |
| 13192 | Power is passive force, which is mass, and active force, which is entelechy or form [Leibniz] |
| 13194 | God's laws would be meaningless without internal powers for following them [Leibniz] |
| 13195 | To explain a house we must describe its use, as well as its parts [Leibniz] |
| 13196 | All qualities of bodies reduce to forces [Leibniz] |