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Single Idea 12970

[from 'New Essays on Human Understanding' by Gottfried Leibniz, in 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / d. Coincident objects ]

Full Idea

We find that two shadows or two rays of light interpenetrate, and we could devise an imaginary world where bodies did the same.

Gist of Idea

We can imagine two bodies interpenetrating, as two rays of light seem to

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 2.27)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.230


A Reaction

I suspect this is a case of being able to imagine something when you don't fully understand it (like a bonfire on the Moon), but when you fully understand the modern physics of it, you see the necessity of separation between objects.