Full Idea
The essence of substance consists in ...the law of the sequence of changes, as in the nature of the series in numbers.
Gist of Idea
The essence of substance is the law of its changes, as in the series of numbers
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690], A 6.3.326), quoted by Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J - Substance and Individuation in Leibniz 6.1.2
Book Reference
Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J: 'Substance and Individuation in Leibniz' [CUP 1999], p.220
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.
Related Idea
Idea 13095 Essence is primitive force, or a law of change [Leibniz]