Single Idea 19420

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / e. Death]

Full Idea

Death, like generation, is only the transformation of the same animal, which is sometimes augmented and sometimes diminished.

Gist of Idea

Death and generation are just transformations of an animal, augmented or diminished

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Principle of Life and Plastic Natures [1705], p.195)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Leibniz Selections', ed/tr. Wiener,Philip P. [Scribners 1951], p.195


A Reaction

Leibniz has a very unusual view of death, since neither minds nor their bodies can ever be wholly destroyed. Death is a kind of shrinking. I suspect that he was wrong about that.