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Work #1069 · Mature

Discourse on Metaphysics

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
1686 (composed February 1686; first published 1846) · French
Philosophical treatise in 37 sections · Early modern philosophy / German rationalism

Leibniz's 1686 systematic statement of his mature metaphysics — initiating the famous Arnauld correspondence

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Discourse on Metaphysics (Mature)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Relational
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Emergent
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Discourse on Metaphysics

Eternal divine choice; temporal unfolding of complete concepts.

Space

Discourse on Metaphysics

Relational space of monadic perspectives.

Matter

Discourse on Metaphysics

Bodies as emergent from substantial forms.

Observer

Discourse on Metaphysics

Each substance as a perspective on the universe.

Energy

Discourse on Metaphysics

Internal activity of substantial forms.

Information

Discourse on Metaphysics

The complete concept as eternal information.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Discourse on Metaphysics

Arnauld objected that complete-concept theory threatens human freedom; their correspondence developed Leibniz's theodicy responses.