-
Law and Physics in Leibniz
- Journal of the History of Philosophy
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 62, Number 1, January 2024
- pp. 49-73
- 10.1353/hph.2024.a916711
- Article
- Additional Information
- Purchase/rental options available:
abstract:
In this paper I argue that there is a structural parallelism between law and physics in Leibniz since his early years, which has significant influence on the formation of his views. I start by examining Leibniz's early physical system and an analogy with juridical laws that he uses to explain the structure of physical laws. Then, I argue that this analogy stems from an envisioned parallelism between law and physics. Finally, I illustrate the significance of this legal-physical parallelism by arguing that it underlies some of Leibniz's mature views. Most importantly, I argue that the parallelism explains the origin of architectonic principles or optimality principles in Leibniz's mature physics.