the rationalists: leibniz individual substances
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The Rationalists: Leibniz Individual Substances. 1. Introduction. Outline. 2. Individual Substances and Predication. 3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents. 4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”. 5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The Rationalists: LeibnizThe Rationalists: LeibnizIndividual SubstancesIndividual Substances
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Review: Review: Leibniz: RationalismLeibniz: Rationalism
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Epistemology:- Granted to the empiricist: empirical knowledge- Against the empiricist: knowledge of eternal truths- Granted to the empiricist: senses as necessary triggers - Against the empiricist: ultimately grounded in pure reason
Two kinds of truths:- Necessary Truths – Contradiction - Contingent Truths – Sufficient Reason
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Review: Review: Leibniz: TheodicyLeibniz: Theodicy
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Starting Point of Leibniz’ philosophy:- God is absolutely perfect - Hence the world is perfect
Perfect in which sense?- God’s Freedom is enlightened, not arbitrary - Perfection = minimal means, maximal complexity The best possible world
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Introduction: Introduction: Leibniz: MetaphysicsLeibniz: Metaphysics
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
The dangers of the modern reductionism- Descartes: matter = extension and movement- Spinoza: one single substance Materialism, necessitarianism, atheism
The conceptual problems within modern reductionism: - Individuation - Freedom with teleology - Moral responsibility
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Individual Substances and Individual Substances and PredicationPredication
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Previous notions of substance - self-sufficient being (Spinoza)- what remains constant under changes (wax)
Substance as the subject of predication- What is predication? Assign a predicate to a subjectJalisco is a cat- From language to metaphysics- Substances are these beings which are referred to by subjects which cannot be predicated - Which are they?
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Individual Substances as the Fundamental Individual Substances as the Fundamental Constituents of the UniverseConstituents of the Universe
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Taking seriously the notion of substance: - Unique individuals – Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles- Indivisible – ultimate elements- Immutable – except by God- Depend only on God – emanation from God
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Individual Substances as Self-Individual Substances as Self-ContainedContained
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Requirements for a satisfactory metaphysics:- Fundamental constituents- Recover appearances
Problem: How come that individual substances appear to undergo accidental changes?
Solution: Self-containment The complete notion of an individual substances contains all the predicates that the substance has had, has and will haveExamples?
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Individual Substances defined by Individual Substances defined by their Substantial Formtheir Substantial Form
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
The old notion of substantial form:- Crucial notion for Aristotle and the Scholastics - Example: the socrates-hood of Socrates What makes something what it is
Despised by modern philosopher: vacuous explanation
Defended by Leibniz for metaphysics: - vacuous explanation in physics - clock- necessary in metaphysics – unity and individuation
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Individual Substances as Independent Individual Substances as Independent Mirrors of the UniverseMirrors of the Universe
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Requirements for a satisfactory metaphysics
Problem: The appearance that each substance interact with the external world?
Solution: Mirrors of the UniverseEach individual substance expresses the entirety of the universe from its own perspectiveAnalogy: movie theater
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Pre-established HarmonyPre-established Harmony
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Requirements for a satisfactory metaphysicsProblem: Correlations between our world – causal connectionsAre we watching movies independently or acting in the same movie?Solution: Pre-established Harmony- Correlations: direct causal influence vs. synchronization- Super synchronization by God’s decreeAnalogy
Appearance of causality: - Causality is an illusion- Causal Influences: restriction/expansion of the domain of expression
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OutlineOutline
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
1. Introduction2. Individual Substances and Predication
3. Individual Substances as the fundamental constituents
4. Individual Substances are ``self contained”
5. Individual Substances and their Substantial Form
6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors
7. Pre-established Harmony
8. Conclusion
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Conclusion on Leibniz’ MetaphysicsConclusion on Leibniz’ Metaphysics
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
Fundamental Level: Independent, self-contained, unique, indivisible and immutable substances emanating from God:- Each possesses an intrinsic principle of unity - Each expresses the entire universe from its unique perspective - All perspectives are synchronized
Phenomenal Level:Well grounded illusion of a causal order between interacting systems in a common, material world.