Leibniz – Monadology

Topics of Discussion Biography Monads Monadic Perception Souls and Spirits 11/21/2018

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Life 1646-1716, Germany Father a professor of moral philosophy. The minds power over the affects Early university career, but goes into diplomacy 1772-6, meets Arnauld, Malebranche, Huygens, Spinoza Becomes diplomat and courtier for Duke of Hanover, runs cultural affairs of the Duchy At the court with Handel Known primarily as a mathematician 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 3 3

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Works First, under the influence of the scholastics, then the materials, and finally, idealism From 1675-84 worked on mathematics, physics, and logic. Laid the groundwork for the invention of calculus, differential and integral Published only one book in his lifetime; many papers, and much correspondence Monadology (171) one of two overviews of the system. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Monads The monad which we shall discuss here is nothing other than a simple substance that enters into composite.. Simple means without parts. Monads must exist, since composites exist, and there must be something of which they are composites. Composites have principles of organization, and these can only be spiritual. Monads must be spiritual because material things have parts. Monads are neither created (after the first creation) or destroyed. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320

Monads as spiritual substances Monads are causally self-sufficient Are not affected or impacted by other substances. Monadic activity is entirely inner-developed. “Monads have no windows” Simple substances with properties programmed into them. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 6 6

Differentiation Between Monads Monads differ from each other intrinsically. Not spatio-temporally Could one have two identical monads? Could God will two identical monads? Monads are constantly in change; they are temporal and historical, but not as we experience time. Think of a page of music. It exists all at one time, but phrases lead to other phrases. Yet we experience it over time. Yet not clear how other entities would experience time. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 7 7

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Change and Complexity What differentiates monads then is the rich complexity of their properties. A point is is perfectly simple, yet an infinity of angles are formed by lines meeting in it. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 8 8

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Monadic Perception Monadic perception is constant; should be distinguished from consciousness and even awareness. The ocean roar. What we are hearing, but what we cannot distinguish, is the sound made my individual waves. All monads have perceptions; animals have apperceptions; and humans have consciousness/reason. 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 9 9

Modern Philosophy PHIL320 Appetition Appetition is the activity of the inner principle of change, the desire to develop from one perception to another. Each perception draws after it another perception Conatus vs. Appetition: the Roller Coaster Drop vs. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Rejection of reductionist materialism – consciousness is irreducible. Monads are functionings, entelechies, perfections, goal-directed 11/21/2018 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 10 10