Leibniz Slides notes Flashcards
Why was Leibniz’s life marked by the Thirty Years War
The war was Protestant vs. Catholic states. He had family on both sides
What century was Leibniz alive in?
Middle of 17th century to early 18th century
Where was Leibniz born?
Leipzig (Present-day Germany)
What was his job?
Courtier, diplomat
Is Leibniz an empiricist or a rationalist?
Rationalist (A priori knowledge)
What did Leibniz try to harmonize?
harmonize Enlightenment Rationalism with Christian Scholasticism
Attempts to result Descartes’ interaction problem in a _______ direction
conservative, theistic
What is a “monad”
- A simple substance
- No parts
- Enters into composites
Proof there must be monads
- There are composite, divisible things.
- They must be made of parts.
Metaphysical pluralism
Monads cannot be NATURALLY created (through its parts)
Nor can it be NATURALLY modified (again, no parts)
What does it mean that Monads “have no windows”
nothing from the outside can affect the Monads
A monad is only _____ or ______ by God
Created or destroyed
Who is the Super-Monad?
God
Proof Monads must have different qualities
(1) Otherwise they could not be distinguished from one another.
(2) Otherwise, composite things could not have different qualities/change.
How do monads change?
- Appetition
- Perception
- Apperception
Appetition
internal principle of change
