Single Idea 5034

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 1. Mind / b. Purpose of mind]

Full Idea

Minds are substances which think, and are capable of knowing God and of discovering eternal truths.

Gist of Idea

Mind is a thinking substance which can know God and eternal truths

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1687.10.09)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.73


A Reaction

'God' is there because the ability to grasp the ontological argument is seen as basic. Note a firm commitment to substance-dualism, and a rationalist commitment to the spotting of necessary truths as basic. He is not totally wrong.