Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Roman Law', 'Letters to Antoine Arnauld' and 'Introduction of 'Essence of Christianity''

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2 ideas

27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / c. Forces
Motion alone is relative, but force is real, and establishes its subject [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: Motion in itself separated from force is merely relative, and one cannot establish its subject. But force is something real and absolute.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1688.01.4/14)
     A reaction: The striking phrase here is that force enables us to 'establish its subject'. That is, force is at the heart of reality, and hence, through causal relations, individuates objects. That's how I read it.
27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 5. Species
Consciousness is said to distinguish man from animals - consciousness of his own species [Feuerbach]
     Full Idea: What constitutes the essential difference between man and animal? The most simple, general, and most widely held answer to this question is consciousness. Consciousness is given only in the case of a being to whom his species ...is an object of thought.
     From: Ludwig Feuerbach (Introduction of 'Essence of Christianity' [1841], I)
     A reaction: Rather speculative. Since other species cohabit and breed only with their fellow species members, one might have thought they were aware of them.