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12978 | A perfect idea of an object shows that the object is possible [Leibniz] |
Full Idea: One mark of a perfect idea is that it shows conclusively that the object is possible. | |
From: Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 2.31) | |
A reaction: Subtle but nice. My favourite example would be that the perfect idea of a bonfire on the Moon shows that it is not possible. Essence reveals necessity, as Aristotle and Kit Fine claim. A perfect idea has a single definition. |