Leibniz and the Natural World - Activity, Passivity and Corporeal Substances in Leibniz's Philosophy (Hardcover, 2005 ed.)

In the present book, Pauline Phemister argues against traditional Anglo-American interpretations of Leibniz as an idealist who conceives ultimate reality as a plurality of mind-like immaterial beings and for whom physical bodies are ultimately unreal and our perceptions of them illusory. Re-reading the texts without the prior assumption of idealism allows the more material aspects of Leibniz's metaphysics to emerge. Leibniz is found to advance a synthesis of idealism and materialism. His ontology posits indivisible, living, animal-like corporeal substances as the real metaphysical constituents of the universe; his epistemology combines sense-experience and reason; and his ethics fuses confused perceptions and insensible appetites with distinct perceptions and rational choice. In the light of his sustained commitment to the reality of bodies, Phemister re-examines his dynamics, the doctrine of pre-established harmony and his views on freedom. The image of Leibniz as a rationalist philosopher who values activity and reason over passivity and sense-experience is replaced by the one of a philosopher who recognises that, in the created world, there can only be activity if there is also passivity; minds, souls and forms if there is also matter; good if there is evil; perfection if there is imperfection.

General

Imprint:	Springer-Verlag New York
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	The New Synthese Historical Library, 58
Release date:	June 2005
First published:	2005
Authors:	Pauline. Phemister
Dimensions:	232 x 156 x 19mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	298
Edition:	2005 ed.
ISBN-13:	978-1-4020-3400-8
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > General Books > Philosophy > Western philosophy > General
LSN:	1-4020-3400-8
Barcode:	9781402034008

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