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Single Idea 19362

[from 'Monadology' by Gottfried Leibniz, in 16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 2. Knowing the Self ]

Full Idea

It is through the knowledge of necessary truths and through their abstraction that we rise to reflective acts, which enable us to think of that which is called "I" and enable us to consider that this or that is in us.

Gist of Idea

We know the 'I' and its contents by abstraction from awareness of necessary truths

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Monadology [1716], §30)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.217


A Reaction

For Leibniz, necessary truth can only be known a priori. Sense experience won't reveal the self, as Hume observed. We evidently 'abstract' the idea of 'I' from the nature of a priori thought. Animals have no self (or morals) for this reason.