The Rationalists: Leibniz Individual Substances Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Review: Leibniz: Rationalism 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 Compromise, but still eternal truths Two kinds of truths: Necessary Truths – Contradiction Contingent Truths – Sufficient Reason Contingency exists, not chance Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Review: Leibniz: Theodicy 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 Challenge: Design a worldview which makes sense of the traditional view of God Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Introduction: Leibniz: Metaphysics 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 These are the desiderata for a good metaphysical account of the universe for Leibniz Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Individual Substances and Predication 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 subject Jalisco is a cat From language to metaphysics Substances are these beings which are referred to by subjects which cannot be predicated Which are they? The fundamental constituents of the world are individual particulars Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Individual Substances as the Fundamental Constituents of the Universe 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 Unique and stable building blocks of the universe Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Individual Substances as Self-Contained 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 have Examples? Complete notion. In principle, complete comprehension is possible. But what does define an individual substance? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Individual Substances defined by their Substantial Form 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 Every individual substance has an intrinsic principle of unity and individuation. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Individual Substances as Independent Mirrors of the Universe Requirements for a satisfactory metaphysics Problem: The appearance that each substance interact with the external world? Solution: Mirrors of the Universe Each individual substance expresses the entirety of the universe from its own perspective Analogy: movie theater So: each substance actively unfold itself, i.e. expresses the entire universe from its unique perspective. Pb: why are our movies consistent with one another? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Pre-established Harmony Requirements for a satisfactory metaphysics Problem: Correlations between our world – causal connections Are 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 decree Analogy Appearance of causality: Causality is an illusion Causal Influences: restriction/expansion of the domain of expression Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Outline 1. Introduction 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 6. Individual Substances: Independent Mirrors 7. Pre-established Harmony 8. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

Conclusion on Leibniz’ Metaphysics 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. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana