What does it mean to say that monads are windowless?
In the classic Etymological meaning, a monad is a rational, simple substance that
perceives and is atomic (TeacherOfPhilosophy). A substance that is made up of no pieces. The
monads lack any windows through which they may observe other entities, be influenced by other
factors, or influence other matters successively (TeacherOfPhilosophy). Leibniz states, “It
follows from what has just been said, that the natural changes of the Monad come from an
internal principle, because an external cause can have no influence upon its inner being” (Leibniz
and Arnauld). A monad lacks the ability to seek out other substances, to be influenced by other
substances, or to influence other substances in turn.
There can be no internal motion in a monad since it has no components
(TeacherOfPhilosophy). For example, an individual's brain occupies space. This means that the
human brain has components; thus, it contains all of the many parts (TeacherOfPhilosophy). As a
result, internal brain mobility is possible. Due to the lack of different parts in a monad, there are
no two or more separate portions of the monad that can shift around in respect to each other
(TeacherOfPhilosophy). For example, an external impact might have an effect on the brain and
affect it in some way. A monad has no internal pieces that may be rearranged as a result of an
external force (TeacherOfPhilosophy).
All changes in a monad's perception do not result from some window through which it
may observe the world outside the monad (TeacherOfPhilosophy). According to Leibniz, “The
passing condition which involves and represents a multiplicity in unity, or in the simple
substance, is nothing else than what is called Perception” (Leibniz and Arnauld). The monads are
not impacted by anything outside of themselves, yet their perceptions change. This change is not
influenced by anything outside of themselves; rather, it originates from inside
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(TeacherOfPhilosophy). Perceptions are monadic properties that may be altered. The distribution
of clarity and distinctness over various perceptual levels will be used to assess differences in
points of view.
In addition, some monads, similar to humans, have apperception. Leibniz claims, “This
should be carefully distinguished from Apperception or Consciousness, as well as appear in what
follows” (Leibniz and Arnauld). Humans are higher monads with the ability to perceive and
perceive others (TeacherOfPhilosophy).
Ultimately, these perceptions are qualities of a monad. The monad's property is what it
sees, and a monad's perception changes. Their intrinsic features vary, which is drawn from the
fact that they have no components; hence there appears to be no method to explain how a monad
may be reformed (TeacherOfPhilosophy). As a result, they are windowless.