Ideas from 'Towards a Universal Characteristic' by Gottfried Leibniz [1677], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Leibniz Selections' by Leibniz,Gottfried (ed/tr Wiener,Philip P.) [Scribners 1951,]].

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5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 4. Pure Logic

19370

'Blind thought' is reasoning without recognition of the ingredients of the reasoning

			Full Idea: Leibniz invented the concept of 'blind thought' - reasoning by a manipulation of characters without being able to recognise what each character stands for.
			From: report of Gottfried Leibniz (Towards a Universal Characteristic [1677]) by Richard T.W. Arthur - Leibniz

5. Theory of Logic / K. Features of Logics / 5. Incompleteness

19391

We can assign a characteristic number to every single object

			Full Idea: The true principle is that we can assign to every object its determined characteristic number.
			From: Gottfried Leibniz (Towards a Universal Characteristic [1677], p.18)
			A reaction: I add this as a predecessor of Gödel numbering. It is part of Leibniz's huge plan for a Universal Characteristic, to map reality numerically, and then calculate the truths about it. Gödel seems to allow metaphysics to be done mathematically.

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / g. Applying mathematics

19390

Everything is subsumed under number, which is a metaphysical statics of the universe, revealing powers

			Full Idea: There is nothing which is not subsumable under number; number is therefore a fundamental metaphysical form, and arithmetic a sort of statics of the universe, in which the powers of things are revealed.
			From: Gottfried Leibniz (Towards a Universal Characteristic [1677], p.17)
			A reaction: I take numbers to be a highly generalised and idealised description of an aspect of reality (seen as mainly constituted by countable substances). Seeing reality as processes doesn't lead us to number. So I like this idea.