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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence

13092	The essence of substance is the law of its changes, as in the series of numbers [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: The essence of substance consists in ...the law of the sequence of changes, as in the nature of the series in numbers.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690], A 6.3.326), quoted by Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J - Substance and Individuation in Leibniz 6.1.2
	A reaction: Thus we might say, in this spirit, that the essence of number is the successor operation, as defined by Dedekind and Peano (and perhaps their amenability to inductive proof). I like this. Metaphysicians rule - they penetrate the heart of nature.