Leibniz's Science of the RationalThis book explicates Leibnizian analysis as a search for conditions of intelligibility, and reconsiders his use of principles and methods as well as his account of truth in this way. Via careful reading of well-known, lesser known, and previously unedited texts, it gives a more accurate picture of his philosophical intentions, as well as the relevance of his project to contemporary debate. Two case studies are included, one concerning logic and the other arithmetic; they illustrate a theory of intelligibility that takes as its central notion "possibility for thought", a notion which allows Leibniz to escape certain traps of psychologism, the pseudo-ontology of empiricism, and the empty forms of logicism, and suggests new approaches for contemporary philosophy. "In this remarkable study, Grosholz and Yakira offer a fresh interpretive and conceptual angle on Leibniz's metaphysics. [a] this study deserves high marks for its subtlety, novelty, and creative insight into Leibniz's modes of inquiry as well as for its philosophical acumen." Annals of Science. (Franz Steiner 1998) |
Common terms and phrases
abstract aequale aequalia algebraic analogy analysis analytic Aristotle arithmetic autem categorical proposition claim complex concatenation concrete conditions of intelligibility constituted context copula Couturat defined definition Descartes discourse discussion distinction doctrine Dogmas of Empiricism entity Ergo erit essay ex unitatibus explicit expression extensional fiet formal formal cause Frege fundamental Generales Inquisitiones geometrical idea idem identity individual substance inesse inference intensional intensional logic interpretation ipsi irreducible itaque knowledge Leibniz Leibniz breaks Leibniz's theory Leibnizian theory line segment logic magnitude magnitudines Manuscript mathematical means metaphysical modal operator modern monad monadology Multiplicatio nature nominalist Numerus integer object ontology paradigmatic partium philosophical possibility of thought praedicatum principle of contradiction principle of sufficient progressus propositions qu'on quae question quod rational reference regressus relation requisite revera semantic sense significant simple sufficient reason syllogism thematised theory of predication thing Tria truth understood unity unum et unum whole numbers wise