The Principles of Nature and of Grace, Based on Reason

Abstract

1. A substance is a being that is capable of action. It is either \textbullet{}simple, meaning that it has no parts, or \textbullet{}composite, meaning that it is a collection of simple substances or monads. (Monas is a Greek word meaning \textquoteleft{}unity\textquoteright or \textquoteleft{}oneness\textquoteright.) Any composite thing---{}any body---{}is a multiplicity, \textperiodcentered{}a many, but simple substances are unities, \textperiodcentered{}or ones\textperiodcentered. There must be simple substances everywhere, because without simples there would be no composites---\textperiodcentered{}without ones there could not be manies\textperiodcentered. And simple substances are lives, souls, minds---\textperiodcentered{}where there is a simple substance there is life\textperiodcentered---{}and the world\textquoteright{}s being full of such substances means that the whole of nature is full of life