Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Commentary on 'De Anima'', 'Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed' and 'A Specimen of Discoveries'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     specify just one area for these texts

---

5 ideas

2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason

5035	The two basics of reasoning are contradiction and sufficient reason [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: The two first principles of reasoning are: the principle of contradiction, and the principle of the need for giving a reason.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (A Specimen of Discoveries [1686], p.75)
	A reaction: Could animals have any reasoning ability (say, in solving a physical problem)? Leibniz's criteria both require language. Note the overlapping of the principle of sufficient reason (there IS a reason) with the contractual idea of GIVING reasons.

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / d. Substance defined

19347	Substance needs independence, unity, and stability (for individuation); also it is a subject, for predicates [Perkins]
	Full Idea: For individuation, substance needs three properties: independence, to separate it from other things; unity, to call it one thing, rather than an aggregate; and permanence or stability over time. Its other role is as subject for predicates.
	From: Franklin Perkins (Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed [2007], 3.1)
	A reaction: Perkins is describing the Aristotelian view, which is taken up by Leibniz. 'Substance' is not a controversial idea, if we see that it only means that the world is full of 'things'. It is an unusual philosopher wholly totally denies that.

17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 5. Parallelism

5038	Assume that mind and body follow their own laws, but God has harmonised them [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: Why not assume that God initially created the soul and body with so much ingenuity that, whilst each follows its own laws and properties and operations, all thing agree most beautifull among themselves? This is the 'hypothesis of concomitance'.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (A Specimen of Discoveries [1686], p.80)
	A reaction: They may be in beautifully planned harmony, but how do we know that they are in harmony? Presumably their actions must be compared, and God would even have to harmonise the comparison. Parallelism seems to imply epiphenomenalism or idealism.

22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / e. Death

16764	The soul conserves the body, as we see by its dissolution when the soul leaves [Toletus]
	Full Idea: Every accident of a living thing, as well as all its organs and temperaments and its dispositions are conserved by the soul. We see this from experience, since when that soul recedes, all these dissolve and become corrupted.
	From: Franciscus Toletus (Commentary on 'De Anima' [1572], II.1.1), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 24.5
	A reaction: A nice example of observing a phenemonon, but not being able to observe the dependence relation the right way round. Compare Descartes in Idea 16763.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / b. Human Evil

5037	God doesn't decide that Adam will sin, but that sinful Adam's existence is to be preferred [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: God does not decide whether Adam should sin, but whether that series of things in which there is an Adam whose perfect individual notion involves sin should nevertheless be preferred to others.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (A Specimen of Discoveries [1686], p.78)
	A reaction: Compare whether the person responsible for setting a road speed limit is responsible for subsequent accidents. Leibniz's belief that the world could have been made no better than it is (by an omnipotent being) strikes me as blind faith, not an argument.