Leibniz's Naturalized Philosophy of MindLarry M. Jorgensen provides a systematic reappraisal of Leibniz's philosophy of mind, revealing the full metaphysical background that allowed Leibniz to see farther than most of his contemporaries. In recent philosophy much effort has been put into discovering a naturalized theory of mind. Leibniz's efforts to reach a similar goal three hundred years earlier offer a critical stance from which we can assess our own theories. But while the goals might be similar, the content of Leibniz's theory significantly diverges from that of today's thought. Perhaps surprisingly, Leibniz's theological commitments yielded a thoroughgoing naturalizing methodology: the properties of an object are explicable in terms of the object's nature. Larry M. Jorgensen shows how this methodology led Leibniz to a fully natural theory of mind. |
Contents
1 | |
Leibnizs Naturalizing Project | 9 |
The Metaphysical Basis of Minds | 87 |
Mind in the Natural Order | 143 |
The Prerogative of Minds | 223 |
291 | |
301 | |
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according action activity allow animals appeal appetite apply argues argument become body Cartesian causal cause chapter claim clear concepts conclusion connection consciousness consider created depends describes difference discussion distinctness distinguish divine effect entail Essays example existence explained expression fact finite force fully function further give given God's grounded higher-order human ideas immediate individual infinite intelligible internal interpretation involves kind knowledge laws Leibniz says Leibniz's theory letter limited Malebranche matter memory mental metaphysical mind miracles monad moral identity motion natural natural theory necessary objects occasionalism particular passage perception perceptual distinctness perfection philosophy physical possible present preservation Press principle of continuity problem question rational reason refer reflection relation representation represents requires response result seems sensation sense similar soul structure substance sufficient suggest texts things thought transitions true truths University