Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 3 (of 3)
Georg Hegel · en
Fourthly: “The determinateness and the variation thereby established
is, however, an inward implicit principle; it is a multiplicity of
modifications, of relations to surrounding existences, but a multiplicity
which remains locked up in simplicity. Determinateness and variation
such as this, which remains and goes on in the existence itself, is a
perception;” and therefore Leibnitz says all monads perceive or represent
(for we may translate _perceptio_ by representation [Vorstellung]).
In other words, they are in themselves universal, for universality is
just simplicity in multiplicity, and therefore a simplicity which is
at the same time change and motion of multiplicity. This is a very
important determination; in substance itself there is negativity,
determinateness, without its simplicity and its implicitude being given
up. Further, in it there is this idealism, that the simple is something
in itself distinguished, and in spite of its variation, that it yet
remains one, and continues in its simplicity. An instance of this is
found in “I,” my spirit. I have many conceptions, a wealth of thought
is in me, and yet I remain one, notwithstanding this variety of state.
This identity may be found in the fact that what is different is at the
same time abrogated, and is determined as one; the monads are therefore
distinguished by modifications in themselves, but not by external
determinations. These determinations contained in the monads exist in
them in ideal fashion; this ideality in the monad is in itself a whole,
so that these differences are only representations and ideas. This
absolute difference is what is termed the Notion; what falls asunder
in the mere representation is held together. This is what possesses
interest in Leibnitz’s philosophy. Such ideality in the same way pertains
to the material, which is also a multiplicity of monads; therefore the
system of Leibnitz is an intellectual system, in accordance with which
all that is material has powers of representation and perception. As
thus representing, the monad, says Leibnitz, possesses activity; for
activity is to be different, and yet to be one, and this is the only
true difference. The monad not only represents, it also changes; but in
doing so, it yet remains in itself absolutely what it is. This variation
is based on activity. “The activity of the inner principle, by means of
which it passes from one perception to another, is desire (_appetitus_).”
Variation in representation is desire, and that constitutes the
spontaneity of the monad; all is now complete in itself, and the category
of influence falls away. Indeed, this intellectuality of all things is a
great thought on the part of Leibnitz: “All multiplicity is included in
unity;”[251] determination is not a difference in respect of something
else, but reflected into itself, and maintaining itself. This is one
aspect of things, but the matter is not therein complete; it is equally