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Single Idea 12986

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

Full Idea

There are vague and imperfect essences, as in the question of how few hairs a man can have without being bald.

Gist of Idea

The essence of baldness is vague and imperfect

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 3.05)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.302


A Reaction

This example is much discussed in contemporary debate, but I now learn that it has a venerable history. The surprise here is the word 'essences', because I had taken Leibnizian essences to be 'perfect ideas', and hence precise.