Single Idea 5061

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 7. Animal Minds]

Full Idea

There is a connexion between the perceptions of animals, which bears some resemblance to reason: but it is based only on the memory of facts or effects, and not at all on the knowledge of causes.

Gist of Idea

Animals are semi-rational because they connect facts, but they don't see causes

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Principles of Nature and Grace based on Reason [1714], §5)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.197


A Reaction

This amounts to the view that animals can do Humean induction (where you see regularities), but not Leibnizian induction (where you see necessities). I say all minds perceive patterns, but only humans can think about the patterns they have perceived.