more from John Cottingham

Single Idea 4304

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / c. Types of substance]

Full Idea

Descartes was a dualist about substance, Spinoza was a monist, and Leibniz was a pluralist (an infinity of substances).

Gist of Idea

Descartes says there are two substance, Spinoza one, and Leibniz infinitely many

Source

John Cottingham (The Rationalists [1988], p.76)

Book Reference

Cottingham,John: 'The Rationalists' [OUP 1988], p.76


A Reaction

Spinoza is appealing. We posit a substance, as the necessary basis for existence, but it is unclear how more than one substance can be differentiated. If mind is a separate substance, why isn't iron? Why aren't numbers?