more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 13077

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 1. Essences of Objects]

Full Idea

Apart from those that depend on others, one must only consider together all the basic predicates in order to form the complete concept of Adam adequate to deduce from it everything that is ever to happen to him, as much as is necessary to account for it.

Gist of Idea

Basic predicates give the complete concept, which then predicts all of the actions

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1686.06)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'The Leibniz-Arnauld Correspondence', ed/tr. Mason,HT/Parkinson,GHR [Manchester UP 1967], p.48


A Reaction

This (implausibly) goes beyond mere prediction of properties. Eve's essence seems to be relevant to Adam's life. Note that the complete concept is not every predicate, but only those 'necessary' to predict the events. Cf Idea 13082.

Related Ideas

Idea 13082 The complete concept of an individual includes contingent properties, as well as necessary ones [Leibniz]

Idea 13089 To fully conceive the subject is to explain the resulting predicates and events [Leibniz]