more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 13173

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / e. Death]

Full Idea

Death is nothing but the contraction of an animal, just as generation is nothing but its unfolding.

Gist of Idea

Death is just the contraction of an animal

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Johann Bernoulli [1699], 1698.11.18)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.169


A Reaction

This is possibly the most bizarre view that I have found in Leibniz. He seemed to thing that if you burnt an animal on a bonfire, some little atom of life would remain among the ashes. I can't see why he would believe such a thing.