Gottfried Leibniz

Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716)

German philosopher and mathematician known for his work in metaphysics and calculus

Calculus controversy

Leibniz had a famous dispute with Isaac Newton over the invention of calculus

Monads

Leibniz believed the universe is made up of infinite spiritual forces called Monads, not physical atoms

Monads and harmony

Each Monad determines the state of others based on the principle of harmony

Properties of Monads

Monads contain all their past and future properties; everything is rooted in the past and future

Soul's Monads

The soul has infinite Monads, each with "apperceptions" or small perceptions

Apperceptions

Small perceptions that can become continuous through memory and attention, similar to memory chips

Clear knowledge

Conscious understanding, such as knowing the sides of a triangle

Fragmented knowledge

Partial understanding, like recognizing a melody but not the entire song

Unconscious knowledge

Perceptions that exist below awareness, like background noise or automatic actions

Personality

Formed through gradual acquisition of habits and characteristics

Nativist

Leibniz believed behavior is influenced by experiences, but knowledge is innate and not solely derived from the world

Innate ideas

Principles and cognitive structures that exist independently of experience