more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 19363

[catalogued under 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 Reference

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.