Open AccessThe Principle of analogy in Leibniz
Author(s) -
Bernardino Orio de Miguel
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
enrahonar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 1
eISSN - 2014-881X
pISSN - 0211-402X
DOI - 10.5565/rev/enrahonar.778
Subject(s) - analogy , metaphysics , philosophy , harmony (color) , epistemology , character (mathematics) , order (exchange) , theoretical physics , mathematics , physics , geometry , finance , optics , economics
The metaphorical character of Leibniz's philosophical discourse is not mere chance. It stands upon a sound metaphysical foundation. The principle of analogy dominates his entire conception of the universe: the phenomenal order of things represents the metaphysical order of the spiritual substances. These epiritual units on their part again reflect one another analogically, so that in each and every one of these “monads”, as Leibniz called them, we can find an echo of the whole universe. Deeply rooted in the theosophic-cabbalistic tradition of his time, Leibniz profusely develops throughout his works the hermetic principle that "what is above is like what is below and what is below is like what is above, so that perfect unity is achieved”. With this background for reference we can understand the Leibnizian notion of universal harmony and the plasticity of expression in his metaphorical language