My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway, and hold a middle position between Plato and Democritus, because I hold that all things take place mechanically as Democritus and Descartes contend against the views of Henry More and his followers, and hold too, nevertheless, that everything takes place according to a living principle and according to final causes — all things are full of life and consciousness, contrary to the views of the Atomists.


Letter to Thomas Burnet (1697), as quoted in Platonism, Aristotelianism and Cabalism in the Philosophy of Leibniz (1938) by Joseph Politella, p. 18

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Quotes

My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway, and hold a middle position between Plato and Democritus,...

My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway, and hold a middle position between Plato and Democritus,...

My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway, and hold a middle position between Plato and Democritus,...

My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway, and hold a middle position between Plato and Democritus,...