more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 19412

[catalogued under 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 7. Indiscernible Objects]

Full Idea

If two bodies differ only in their position, their individual relations to the environment must be taken into account, so that more is involved in their distinguishability than just position.

Gist of Idea

If two bodies only seem to differ in their position, those different environments will matter

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Burcher De Volder [1706], 1703.06.20)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Leibniz Selections', ed/tr. Wiener,Philip P. [Scribners 1951], p.180


A Reaction

This seems to allow that two bodies could be intrinsically type-identical (though differing in extrinsic features), which is contrary to his normal view. I suppose a different location in the gravitational field will make an intrinsic difference.