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Single Idea 14869

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

Full Idea

If pleasure, displeasure, sensation, memory, reflex movements are all part of the essence of matter, then human knowledge penetrates far more deeply into the essence of things.

Gist of Idea

If some sort of experience is at the root of matter, then human knowledge is close to its essence

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1872-74 [1873], 19 [161])

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Unpublished of 'Unfashionable Obs' period (v 11)', ed/tr. Gray,Richard T. [Stanford 1995], p.52


A Reaction

I don't think Nietzsche is thinking of monads at this point, but his idea certainly applies to them. Leibniz rested his whole theory on the close analogy between how minds work and how matter must also work.


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

Substances are in harmony, because they each express the one reality in themselves [Leibniz]
The monad idea incomprehensibly spiritualises matter, instead of materialising soul [La Mettrie on Leibniz]
He replaced Aristotelian continuants with monads [Leibniz, by Wiggins]
Is a drop of urine really an infinity of thinking monads? [Voltaire on Leibniz]
It is unclear in 'Monadology' how extended bodies relate to mind-like monads. [Garber on Leibniz]
Changes in a monad come from an internal principle, and the diversity within its substance [Leibniz]
A 'monad' has basic perception and appetite; a 'soul' has distinct perception and memory [Leibniz]
A monad and its body are living, so life is everywhere, and comes in infinite degrees [Leibniz]
Reality must be made of basic unities, which will be animated, substantial points [Leibniz]
All substances analyse down to simple substances, which are souls, or 'monads' [Leibniz]
A piece of flint contains something resembling perceptions and appetites [Leibniz]
Entelechies are analogous to souls, as other minds are analogous to our own minds [Leibniz]
All simply substances are in harmony, because they all represent the one universe [Leibniz]
Monads are not extended, but have a kind of situation in extension [Leibniz]
Only monads are substances, and bodies are collections of them [Leibniz]
Without a substantial chain to link monads, they would just be coordinated dreams [Leibniz]
Monads do not make a unity unless a substantial chain is added to them [Leibniz]
Monads control nothing outside of themselves [Leibniz]
Leibniz proposes monads, since there must be basic things, which are immaterial in order to have unity [Leibniz, by Jolley]
If some sort of experience is at the root of matter, then human knowledge is close to its essence [Nietzsche]
Husserl sees the ego as a monad, unifying presence, sense and intentional acts [Husserl, by Velarde-Mayol]
Epicurean atomists say body is sensible, to distinguish it from space. [Garber]
In 1676 it was discovered that water is teeming with life [Krauss]
Leibnizian monads qualify as Kantian noumena [Gardner]