The search for the truth of the world has been a highly debatable topic for many philosophers. The concept of ‘substance’ have differed throughout the years, as many philosophers have established contrasting perspectives on it. G.W Leibniz and John Locke were two prominent philosophers whose discussions offered a very unique lens to the the question of what is substance. This essay will focus on philosophers, Leibniz and Locke, and their contrasting perspectives on the concept of substance.
Leibniz’s perspective of substance was centered on the God, and His importance. Substances are dependent on God, since He is the ultimate creator. In his Discourse, section 14, he says, “God produces various substances according to his different views he has of the universe and through God’s intervention the proper nature of each substance brings it about that what happens to one corresponds with what happen to all the others, without their acting …show more content…
Locke introduces his idea of the substance.In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he says, “the idea then we have [of substance, which is nothing], but the supposed, but unknown support of those qualities, we find existing, which we imagine cannot subsist” (Locke:II, xxiii, 2). Substances are particular things that exist by themselves. His idea of substance is, specifically, involves his idea of the substratum for qualities. An idea of the general substance does not exist, but rather suppositions, as he says. In turn, simple ideas are made, which are very weak ideas, and not sufficient to explain the general substance. Substances are empty, and lack their substratum. We cannot know the properties of substances by experience. We only have clear ideas of the qualities. Our ideas of the qualities belonging to substances are simple and “though it be certain, we have no clear, or distinct idea of that thing we suppose a support” (II, xxiii,
Leibniz’s perspective of substance was centered on the God, and His importance. Substances are dependent on God, since He is the ultimate creator. In his Discourse, section 14, he says, “God produces various substances according to his different views he has of the universe and through God’s intervention the proper nature of each substance brings it about that what happens to one corresponds with what happen to all the others, without their acting …show more content…
Locke introduces his idea of the substance.In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he says, “the idea then we have [of substance, which is nothing], but the supposed, but unknown support of those qualities, we find existing, which we imagine cannot subsist” (Locke:II, xxiii, 2). Substances are particular things that exist by themselves. His idea of substance is, specifically, involves his idea of the substratum for qualities. An idea of the general substance does not exist, but rather suppositions, as he says. In turn, simple ideas are made, which are very weak ideas, and not sufficient to explain the general substance. Substances are empty, and lack their substratum. We cannot know the properties of substances by experience. We only have clear ideas of the qualities. Our ideas of the qualities belonging to substances are simple and “though it be certain, we have no clear, or distinct idea of that thing we suppose a support” (II, xxiii,