I will discuss and compare three authors’ theories of substance, Descartes, Anne Viscountess Conway, and G.W. Leibniz. I will briefly summarize Descartes’ theory of substance. I will outline the two additional theories of substance by Conway and Leibniz. I will discuss how they relate to Descartes theory. I will discuss the interesting difference in the role God plays in the two latter theories as contrasted with Descartes’ theory. I will examine striking similarities and also the differences in each author’s interpretation of the role an infinite God plays in each definition of substance. Considered together, they build to an intriguing and more complete understanding of what is infinite and what an infinite God is capable of. Descartes
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Conway recognizes three distinct substances with three distinct essences: God, Jesus (a “heavenly man”), and all other creatures (Atherton, 1994, p.51-52). She argues that God made all other creatures of one substance, one essence (p.52). She also refers to “nature herself, i.e. the creature” (p.67). This one substance manifests as many different individuals and species, but they are all one of one substance/essence. According to Conway, souls and matter cannot be annihilated but can only be changed “from one nature to another” (p.67), reinforcing that God is a “perpetual creator”(p.54). Her view stems from a literal interpretation of scripture that everything created on earth is of the earth, and shall return to the earth (p.57). This interpretation includes that God can make anything out of the earth such as, fish from water, and man from earth, and then give them the breath of life or “vital action” (p.57-58). She concludes, “life and figure consist very well together in one body, or substance, where figure is an instrument of life, without which no vital operation can be performed” (p.71). This can be illustrated in the idea of a mammalian embryo, perhaps a horse. The seed of life has everything in it to live, including a body and essence from conception. As the horse grows the essence or soul grows and learns, gaining in perfection. When the matter of the horse (its …show more content…
Leibnitz philosophy agrees with Conway’s in that nothing can be created or annihilated only changed continually (p.229, 275-76). This means that both philosophies consider mind and matter to be eternal properties of the same substance, reflections of the infinite nature of God. Leibnitz’ idea of eternal builds a step beyond Conway’s because he specifically adds the dimension of time to his idea of an infinite God. For Leibniz, every substance is a mirror of the entire universe (or God) and contains within itself the past, present and future, and the power to affect every other substance (p.229). These two things reflect God’s infinite knowledge and power and are present in all substance. To illustrate this somewhat confusing notion, God knows everything, past, present and future. God has power over everything. Each substance, in essence, has attributes of the past, present and future contained in it. Each substance will interact with one another, affecting the entire
Conway recognizes three distinct substances with three distinct essences: God, Jesus (a “heavenly man”), and all other creatures (Atherton, 1994, p.51-52). She argues that God made all other creatures of one substance, one essence (p.52). She also refers to “nature herself, i.e. the creature” (p.67). This one substance manifests as many different individuals and species, but they are all one of one substance/essence. According to Conway, souls and matter cannot be annihilated but can only be changed “from one nature to another” (p.67), reinforcing that God is a “perpetual creator”(p.54). Her view stems from a literal interpretation of scripture that everything created on earth is of the earth, and shall return to the earth (p.57). This interpretation includes that God can make anything out of the earth such as, fish from water, and man from earth, and then give them the breath of life or “vital action” (p.57-58). She concludes, “life and figure consist very well together in one body, or substance, where figure is an instrument of life, without which no vital operation can be performed” (p.71). This can be illustrated in the idea of a mammalian embryo, perhaps a horse. The seed of life has everything in it to live, including a body and essence from conception. As the horse grows the essence or soul grows and learns, gaining in perfection. When the matter of the horse (its …show more content…
Leibnitz philosophy agrees with Conway’s in that nothing can be created or annihilated only changed continually (p.229, 275-76). This means that both philosophies consider mind and matter to be eternal properties of the same substance, reflections of the infinite nature of God. Leibnitz’ idea of eternal builds a step beyond Conway’s because he specifically adds the dimension of time to his idea of an infinite God. For Leibniz, every substance is a mirror of the entire universe (or God) and contains within itself the past, present and future, and the power to affect every other substance (p.229). These two things reflect God’s infinite knowledge and power and are present in all substance. To illustrate this somewhat confusing notion, God knows everything, past, present and future. God has power over everything. Each substance, in essence, has attributes of the past, present and future contained in it. Each substance will interact with one another, affecting the entire