Christia Mercer has exposed for the first time the underlying doctrines of Leibniz's philosophy. By analyzing Leibniz's early works she demonstrates that the metaphysics of pre-established harmony developed many years earlier than previously believed and for reasons that have not been understood. A much deeper understanding of some of Leibniz's key doctrines emerges. Christia Mercer's study will force scholars to reconsider their basic assumptions about early modern philosophy and science. This is a very significant contribution to the history of early modern philosophy that will be of special importance to philosophers, historians of ideas, historians of science and those in religious studies.
Author(s): Christia Mercer
Edition: 0
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 542
Acknowledgments......Page 11
References to Leibniz’s works......Page 13
Introduction: First truths and half truths......Page 15
Part one Metaphysics of Method......Page 35
1.Eclecticism and conciliation, 1661-68......Page 37
Part two Metaphysics of Substance......Page 75
2.Aristotelian assumptions, 1668-69......Page 77
3.Original conception of substance, 1669......Page 113
4.Second conception of substance, 1669–early 1671......Page 144
Part three Metaphysics of Divinity......Page 185
5.Platonist assumptions......Page 187
6Metaphysics of Divinity,1668–early 1671......Page 220
Part four Metaphysics......Page 267
7.Matter, passivity, and panorganic vitalism,1670–71......Page 269
8.Phenomenalism and Preestablished Harmony, 1671......Page 314
9.Preestablished Harmony, late 1671 – early 1672......Page 359
10.Final steps toward the mature philosophy, 1672-79......Page 399
Conclusion: the truth behind the First truths......Page 476
Appendix I.(Not exactly) First truths......Page 487
Appendix II.Leibniz’s Original Assumptions......Page 491
Bibliography......Page 499
Index Locorum......Page 517
Index......Page 524
