more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 19383

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations]

Full Idea

No one can become a widower in India because of the death of his wife in Europe unless a real change occurs in him.

Gist of Idea

A man's distant wife dying is a real change in him

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Burcher De Volder [1706], GP ii 240), quoted by Richard T.W. Arthur - Leibniz 7 'Nominalist'

Book Reference

Arthur, Richard T.W.: 'Leibniz' [Polity 2014], p.148


A Reaction

This is Leibniz heroically denying so-called 'Cambridge Change'. It is hard to see how a widower is changed if he has not yet heard the bad news. But his situation in life has changed. Compare eudaimonia, which you can lose without realising it.