The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Episode 6: Leibniz's Monadology: What Is There?
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Jul 31, 2009 AI Snips
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Preestablished Harmony by God
- Monads cannot causally influence one another due to their indivisibility and simplicity.
- Instead, God preordained all monads to act in perfect harmony, synchronizing their perceptions and actions.
Mind-Body Problem Solved by Harmony
- Mind-body interaction is impossible under strict physical causality, thus Leibniz posits harmony coordinated by God.
- This preserves physical laws but allows mind and body to correspond perfectly without direct causal influence.
Freedom as Internal Spontaneity
- Freedom for monads means internal spontaneity despite their prearranged histories by God.
- Monads act from within their own appetites, maintaining moral responsibility even if predetermined in God's knowledge.