Leibniz, Monadology

PHIL 202, Modern philosophy, Fall 2026

1 Overview

  • What the Monadology is
  • What a monad is

2 Structure of the Monadology

  • What a monad is
  • The varieties of monad
  • The great principles
  • The world
  • Bodies and life
  • Pre-established harmony

3 What a monad is

  • Negative characterization (what monads are not)
  • Positive characterization (what monads are)
    • Identity of indiscernibles

4 Perception in monads

  • Varied
  • Variety caused by appetition
  • Non-mechanical
  • As distinct from apperception (consciousness)

5 Varieties of monad

  • Entelechies and souls
  • Perception and consciousness
  • From perception to habit

6 Two basic principles

  • Contradiction
    • The problem of explosion: \((P \wedge \neg P) \models Q\)
    • Reductio: If \(P \models \bot\), then \(\models \neg P\)
  • Sufficient reason