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Single Idea 5510

[filed under theme 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 3. Panpsychism ]

Full Idea

In Leibniz's panpsychism, the so-called 'physical' points are souls or spiritual 'monads'.

Gist of Idea

Leibniz has a panpsychist view that physical points are spiritual

Source

report of Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690]) by R Martin / J Barresi - Introduction to 'Personal Identity' p.23

Book Ref

'Personal Identity', ed/tr. Martin,R /Barresi,J [Blackwells 2003], p.23


A Reaction

I'm not convinced that 'panpsychism' is the right description for Leibniz's theory of monads. I take panpsychism to be either a dualist or a dual aspect (or property dualism) view. Leibniz seems to believe there is strictly one substance.


The 12 ideas with the same theme [all matter has a mental aspect to it]:

Wisdom and thought are shared by all things [Empedocles]
The earth is and always has been an insentient being [Lucretius]
Particles may have sensation, but eggs turning into chicks suggests otherwise [Lucretius]
That all matter thinks is absurd, and would make each part of our bodies a distinct self-consciousness [Bentley]
Every body contains a kind of sense and appetite, or a soul [Leibniz]
Something rather like souls (though not intelligent) could be found everywhere [Leibniz]
Leibniz has a panpsychist view that physical points are spiritual [Leibniz, by Martin/Barresi]
Nature contains a fundamental force of thought [Fichte]
Whatever is First must be sentient [Peirce]
Can phenomenal qualities exist unsensed? [Lockwood]
Brains aren't made of anything special, suggesting panpsychism [McGinn]
It is odd if experience is a very recent development [Chalmers]