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Possible worlds. Leibniz.

Jackson June 15, 2022 at 01:46 5975 views 31 comments
Leibniz described the universe as possible worlds. A monad is a possible world.
David Lewis used the idea for language philosophy--testing truth in each possible world.

It makes sense to me. Sounds just like idea of the multiverse.

Comments (31)

Banno June 15, 2022 at 01:58 #708780
Quoting Jackson
A monad is a possible world.


That would be surprising. Where's that from?
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 01:59 #708781
Quoting Banno
That would be surprising. Where's that from?


Leibniz. Monadology. Each possible world has a rule or logic.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 02:09 #708783
Quoting Jackson
Each possible world has a rule or logic.


...and...?

Monads are simple substances. God chose the best of all possible worlds to be the one instantiated by those monads.

That doesn't sound like "Monads are possible worlds"...
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:10 #708784
Reply to Banno

9. Indeed, each Monad must be different from every other. For in nature there are
never two beings which are perfectly alike and in which it is not possible to find
an internal difference, or at least a difference founded upon an intrinsic quality.

https://www.plato-philosophy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/The-Monadology-1714-by-Gottfried-Wilhelm-LEIBNIZ-1646-1716.pdf
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:11 #708785
Quoting Banno
That doesn't sound like "Monads are possible worlds"...


Yes, Leibniz says each monad is a universe unto itself.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:12 #708787
Quoting Banno
God chose the best of all possible worlds to be the one instantiated by those monads.

That doesn't sound like "Monads are possible worlds"...


I see. Possible worlds preexist God's decision.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 02:14 #708789
Quoting Jackson
9. Indeed, each Monad must be different from every other. For in nature there are never two beings which are perfectly alike and in which it is not possible to find
an internal difference, or at least a difference founded upon an intrinsic quality.


Sure. But they are actual, not possible.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:15 #708790
Quoting Banno
Sure. But they are actual, not possible.


Possible refers to the logic. Not all possible worlds are realized.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 02:17 #708791
Reply to Jackson If you like. Monads are not each a possible world.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:19 #708792
Quoting Banno
If you like. Monads are not each a possible world.


Yes, they are. A monad has a complete logic unto itself Like no other monad. It is a universe unto itself.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 02:36 #708798
Reply to Jackson That is not my understanding. Nor does it follow from (9). It seems you have been led astray somewhere.

Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:40 #708799
Quoting Banno
That is not my understanding. Nor does it follow from (9). It seems you have been led astray somewhere.


No, direct reading of Leibniz. Maybe you don't understand.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 02:45 #708801
Quoting Jackson
No, direct reading of Leibniz. Maybe you don't understand.


(9) does not imply that a monad is a universe unto itself.

So, where?
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:54 #708802
Reply to Banno

A possible world is a logic of relations. A monad is a logic of relations. If you understand Leibniz, you know this is true.
Deleted User June 15, 2022 at 02:57 #708803
Quoting Jackson
A monad is a possible world.


The SEP begs to differ:

"Since there is a hierarchy among monads within any animal, from the soul of a person down to the infinitely small monad, the relation of domination and subordination among monads is a crucial feature of both Leibniz's idealism and his panorganicism. But the hierarchy of substances is not simply one of containment, in which one monad has an organic body which is the result of other monads, each of which has an organic body, and so on. In the case of animals (brutes and human beings), the hierarchy of monads is also related to the control of the “machine of nature” (as Leibniz had put it in a letter to De Volder considered above). What is it then that explains the relation of dominant and subordinate monads? As Leibniz tells Des Bosses, domination and subordination consists of degrees of perfection."


https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz/#MonWorPhe
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 02:58 #708804
Quoting ZzzoneiroCosm
The SEP begs to differ:

"Since there is a hierarchy among monads within any animal, from the soul of a person down to the infinitely small monad, the relation of domination and subordination among monads is a crucial feature of both Leibniz's idealism and his panorganicism. But the hierarchy of substances is not simply one of containment, in which one monad has an organic body which is the result of other monads, each of which has an organic body, and so on. In the case of animals (brutes and human beings), the hierarchy of monads is also related to the control of the “machine of nature” (as Leibniz had put it in a letter to De Volder considered above). What is it then that explains the relation of dominant and subordinate monads? As Leibniz tells Des Bosses, domination and subordination consists of degrees of perfection."


That said nothing. Remember, Leibniz invented the calculus. He is talking about symbolic relations.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 03:01 #708805
Hm. Quoting Jackson
A possible world is a logic of relations. A monad is a logic of relations. If you understand Leibniz, you know this is true.


A dog is an animal. A cat is an animal. Hence a dog is a cat.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 03:02 #708806
Quoting Banno
A dog is an animal. A cat is an animal. Hence a dog is a cat.


Silly.
Banno June 15, 2022 at 03:02 #708807
Deleted User June 15, 2022 at 03:03 #708808
Reply to Jackson The SEP defines monads as mind-like substances (not as 'a logic of relations') and describes a hierarchy of mind-like substances, a hierarchy of monads.

Take it or leave it.

:smile:
jgill June 15, 2022 at 04:03 #708818
The wedding of two monads: m+m=m

Jackson June 15, 2022 at 04:13 #708823
Quoting jgill
The wedding of two monads: m+m=m


Monads do not affect others like efficient cause.
180 Proof June 15, 2022 at 07:58 #708865
Quoting Jackson
Leibniz described the universe as [s]possible worlds[/s]. A monad is a [s]possible world.[/s]

:cry: :lol:
[quote=Monadology]And just as the same town, when looked at from different sides, appears quite different and is, as it were, multiplied in perspective, so also it happens that because of the infinite number of simple substances, it is AS IF there were as many different universes, which are however but different perspective representations of a single universe from the different point of view of each monad.[/quote]
(Emphases are mine.)
Agent Smith June 15, 2022 at 08:40 #708867
Reply to 180 Proof I guess the matter is settled then! :up:

However, in defense of the OP, each monad does offer a different point of view which could be considered as universes unto themselves. A sentence attributed to Sam Harris: In Dr. Craig's universe...(my memory ain't so good any more).
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 15:16 #708914
Reply to 180 Proof

You are the least informed person on this forum. Always.
Deleted User June 15, 2022 at 15:23 #708916
Quoting Jackson
You are the least informed person on this forum. Always.


Interesting conclusion to draw from a direct quite from the work in question.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 15:24 #708917
Deleted User June 15, 2022 at 15:26 #708918
Reply to Jackson Far from accurate.
Jackson June 15, 2022 at 15:27 #708919
180 Proof June 15, 2022 at 16:24 #708923
Quoting Jackson
You are the least informed person on this forum. Always.

A badge of honor coming from you, D-K! :rofl:
jgill June 15, 2022 at 23:41 #708988
An infinitesimal monad attempts to gain substance by adding itself to a number . . . . but fails

5+m=5

:cry: