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Single Idea 19363

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

Full Idea

A monad's natural changes come from an internal principle, ...but there must be diversity in that which changes, which produces the specification and variety of substances.

Gist of Idea

Changes in a monad come from an internal principle, and the diversity within its substance

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Monadology [1716], §11-12)

Book Ref

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.214

A Reaction

You don't have to like monads to like this generalisation (and Perkins says Leibniz had a genius for generalisations). Metaphysics must give an account of change. Succeeding time-slices etc explain nothing. Principle and substance must meet.

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]