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Leibniz – Monadology I Charles Manekin 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 1 Topics of Discussion Biography Monads Monadic Perception Souls and Spirits 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 2 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 7/21/2015 At the court with Handel Known primarilyModern as Philosophy a mathematician PHIL320 3 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. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 4 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. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 5 Monads as spiritual substances Monads are causally self-sufficient • Are not affected or impacted by other substances. Monadic activity is entirely innerdeveloped. “Monads have no windows” Simple substances with properties programmed into them. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 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. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 7 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. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 8 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. 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 9 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 7/21/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 10