Living Mirrors

Infinity, Unity, and Life in Leibniz's Philosophy

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Metaphysics, History
Cover of the book Living Mirrors by Ohad Nachtomy, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ohad Nachtomy ISBN: 9780190907341
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: March 29, 2019
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Ohad Nachtomy
ISBN: 9780190907341
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: March 29, 2019
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

In Living Mirrors, Ohad Nachtomy examines Leibniz's attempt to "re-enchant" the natural world-that is, to infuse life, purpose, and value into the very foundations of nature, a nature that Leibniz saw as disenchanted by Descartes' and Spinoza's more naturalistic and mechanistic theories. Nachtomy sees Leibniz's nuanced view of infinity- how it differs in the divine as well as human spheres, and its relationship to numerical and metaphysical unity-as key in this effort. Leibniz defined living beings by means of an infinite nested structure particular to what he called "natural machines"-and for him, an intermediate kind of infinity is the defining feature of living beings. Using a metaphor of a "living mirror," Leibniz put forth infinity as crucial to explaining the unity of a living being as well as the harmony between the infinitely small and the infinitely large; in this way, employing infinity and unity, we can better understand life itself, both as a metaphysical principle and as an empirical fact. Nachtomy's sophisticated and novel treatment of the essential themes in Leibniz's work will not only interest Leibniz scholars, but scholars of early modern philosophy and students of the history of philosophy and science as well.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In Living Mirrors, Ohad Nachtomy examines Leibniz's attempt to "re-enchant" the natural world-that is, to infuse life, purpose, and value into the very foundations of nature, a nature that Leibniz saw as disenchanted by Descartes' and Spinoza's more naturalistic and mechanistic theories. Nachtomy sees Leibniz's nuanced view of infinity- how it differs in the divine as well as human spheres, and its relationship to numerical and metaphysical unity-as key in this effort. Leibniz defined living beings by means of an infinite nested structure particular to what he called "natural machines"-and for him, an intermediate kind of infinity is the defining feature of living beings. Using a metaphor of a "living mirror," Leibniz put forth infinity as crucial to explaining the unity of a living being as well as the harmony between the infinitely small and the infinitely large; in this way, employing infinity and unity, we can better understand life itself, both as a metaphysical principle and as an empirical fact. Nachtomy's sophisticated and novel treatment of the essential themes in Leibniz's work will not only interest Leibniz scholars, but scholars of early modern philosophy and students of the history of philosophy and science as well.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Foundations of Perinatal Genetic Counseling by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book After the Wrath of God by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Not in My Family by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Max/MSP/Jitter for Music : A Practical Guide to Developing Interactive Music Systems for Education and More by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Social Work and Social Justice by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book In the Line of Fire by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Rainbow's End : The Crash of 1929 by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Why America Fights : Patriotism And War Propaganda From The Philippines To Iraq by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Pompeii by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Interrupting Capitalism by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book The Lupus Book : A Guide For Patients And Their Families by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Self-System Therapy for Depression by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Another Cosmopolitanism by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Sustainable Security by Ohad Nachtomy
Cover of the book Martial's Epigrams Book Two by Ohad Nachtomy
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy