8/12/2019 Leibniz - On the Incarnation of God, Or on the Hypostatic Union

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/leibniz-on-the-incarnation-of-god-or-on-the-hypostatic-union 1/2

LEIBNIZ: ON THE INCARNATION OF GOD, OR, ON THE HYPOSTATIC UNION

[A VI 1, p532]

  It is notewot!" t!#t !eeti$s wee on%" $onsi&ee& ' e(en )" t!e #n$ients ' to )e t!ose w!o wee s*)+e$ts Hen$e %#w -., $!#/te on

heretics ' t!e Got!s #e e0$*se& t!e /*nis!1ents %#i& &own 2o !eeti$s )e$#*se t!e" #e not s*)+e$ts )*t #%%ies [2oe&e#ti]- T!ee2oe t!e$i1e o2 !ees" is # 3in& o2 $i(i% &iso)e&ien$e, #n& !eeti$s wee $onsi&ee& to )e t!ose w!o &i& not o)e" t!e 1#4ist#$" w!en ite0/o*n&e& on e%i4ion T!is %#w -. &ese(es # s/e$i#% /#$ti$e 2

[A VI 1, p533]

  T!ese #e #)%e to )e !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite&: -5 Go& #n& 1in&, .5 6in& #n& )o&", 75 Bo&" #n& )o&" t!o*4! # $o11on 1in& Bo&" #n&)o&" $#nnot )e !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& in t!e1se%(es )e$#*se no )o&" s*)sists in itse%2 6in& #n& 1in& $#nnot )e !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& *n%essone is /e2e$t #n& t!e ot!e i1/e2e$t, )e$#*se #n i1/e2e$t 1in& &oes not #$t o*tsi&e o2 itse%2 e0$e/t t!o*4! )o&" Fo1 w!i$! it 2o%%owst!#t &e1ons #e not !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to t!e so*%s o2 t!e /ossesse& )e$#*se t!e" #$t on t!ose so*%s t!o*4! inte1e&i#te )o&ies, #n&#e not !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to t!e1 6oeo(e, # $e#te& ' #n& !en$e i1/e2e$t ' 1in& is not *nite& to e(e" )o&", )*t on%" to t!e one inw!i$! it is oote& #n& 2o1 w!i$! it $#nnot )e se/##te& In t!e !*1#n )o&", 2o e0#1/%e, it s!o*%& not )e t!o*4!t t!#t t!e so*% is!"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to #%% t!e $o/*s$%es in it sin$e t!e" #e $onst#nt%" in /#ss#4e8 inste#&, t!e so*% in!ees in t!e (e" $ente o2 t!e )#in,to # $et#in 2i0e& #n& inse/##)%e 2%owe o2 s*)st#n$e w!i$! is 1ost s*)t%" 1o)i%e in t!e $ente o2 t!e #ni1#% s/iits, #n& it is s*)st#nti#%%"*nite& so t!#t it is not se/##te& e(en )" &e#t! T!ee2oe t!e )o&ies o2 t!e /ossesse& #e not *nite& to t!e &e1on, )e$#*se t!ei )o&ies#e not inse/##)%" *nite& to it8 inste#& it #$ts on t!e1 on%" )" 1e#ns o2 its own )o&" It now nee&s to )e in(esti4#te& w!et!e Go& is!"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to #%% )o&ies, t!#t is, to t!e w!o%e wo%&, o w!et!e !e $#n )e to so1e )o&ies o to none An& I t!in3 t!#t t!e wo%&,ie )o&ies, is not !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to Go&, )e$#*se t!ee is no !"/ost#ti$ *nion o2 #n"t!in4 e0$e/t )" 1e#ns o2 one t!in49s #$tion on#not!e, "et Go& is *n#)%e to #$t on )o&ies in #n" ot!e w#" #nni!i%#tion #n& $e#tion e0$e/te&5 t!#n )" i1/essin4 1otion 6oeo(e, 2o#s %on4 #s )o&ies #e 1o(e&, t!e" #e $ontin*#%%" $e#te&, #s I !#(e &e1onst#te& T!ee2oe t!e" #e *nite& to Go& 2o 1oe t!#n #ninst#nt, )*t +*st #s t!#t w!i$! &oes not e1#in in # /%#$e 2o 1oe t!#n #n inst#nt is not $onsi&ee& to )e #t est in it )*t on%" /#ssest!o*4! it, so )o&ies not *nite& to Go& 2o 1oe t!#n #n inst#nt #e not /o/e%" *nite& )*t #e on%" in t#nsition It is ot!ewise in 1in&sw!i$! #e not $e#te&, 2o #s %on4 #s Go& #$ts on t!e1, no is #n" &e1onst#tion 2o t!is 1#tte e(i&ent, )*t 1in&s #e 2ee #n& !#(e #/in$i/%e o2 #$ti(it" in t!e1se%(es, wit! t!e e0$e/tion o2 t!#t 1in& w!ose /in$i/%e o2 #$ti(it" is Go&, ie t!e one w!i$! is *nite& to Go& B*t

!ow, t!en, #e )o&ies !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to 1in&s, sin$e t!e" #e on%" #$t*#%%" *nite& )" 1otion "et &o not $ontin*o*s%" e0ist in 1otion;3 Fo t!#t e#son, t!en, s!o*%& it #t!e )e s#i& t!#t )o&ies #e not !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to Go&, )e$#*se !e &oes not #$t on t!e1 in #ne0t#o&in#" w#" )*t is *nite& to #%% t!in4s e<*#%%"; ' on t!e $ont#", e(en t!o*4! !e $#nnot #$t on )o&ies in #n e0t#o&in#" w#"Be$#*se e(e" #$tion o2 !is on )o&ies is $e#tion, t!en #%t!o*4! in one w#" !e $e#tes, in #not!e w#" !e &oes not He &oes not!in4o*tsi&e t!e o&in#" in t!is 1#tte,4 2o e(e" e0t#o&in#" #$tion o2 Go& is e0t#o&in#" not )" e#son o2 t!e #$t, )*t )" e#son o2 t!eti1e #n& /%#$e, 2o e0#1/%e, )e$#*se !e #nni!i%#tes # )o&" 2o1 # ti1e #n& # /%#$e in w!i$! [ A VI 1, p534] !e is ot!ewise *n#$$*sto1e&to #nni!i%#te one, n#1e%" 2o1 # ti1e #n& # /%#$e in w!i$! it is #t est, o w!en !e $e#tes # )o&" #t # ti1e !e &oes not *s*#%%" $e#te one,2o e0#1/%e w!en it &i& not /e'e0ist )e2oe!#n& O w!en !e $e#tes # )o&" w!ee !e is not #$$*sto1e& to $e#te one, 2o e0#1/%e, in #/%#$e (e" 2# e1o(e& 2o1 1#n" inte(enin4 s/#$es T!ee2oe it is not Go&9s #$tion on )o&ies w!i$! is e0t#o&in#" #n& s/e$i#%, )*t t!eti1e o2 t!e #$tion B*t Go&9s #$tion on # 1in& is s/e$i#% #n& #s it wee &ete1ine& to t!is 1in& e(en )" e#son o2 t!e #$t Fo Go& is not#$$*sto1e& to )e t!e inten#% /in$i/%e o2 #$tin4, #n& t!ee2oe to #$t on 1in&s in t!is w#", e0$e/t on t!#t one #%one w!i$! !e !#s!"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& T!ee2oe %et t!ee )e # !"/ost#ti$ *nion in t!ose t!in4s o2 w!i$! one $onst#nt%" #$ts on t!e ot!e )" # s/e$i#%1#nne o2 #$tion, t!#t is, o2 w!i$! one is t!e ot!e9s i11e&i#te inst*1ent o2 #$tin45 Fo it is /ossi)%e to 2in& !ee t!e &istin$tion )etweent!e 1in&9s #$tion on t!e )o&", #n& Go&9s #$tion on t!e )o&" T!e 1in& &oes not #$t on t!e )o&" )" $e#tin4, )*t )" 1o(in48 Go& $e#tesCon(ese%", Go& #$ts on )o&ies on%" )" $e#tin4 6oeo(e, w!oe(e $e#tes, #$ts on t!e t!in4, #n& &oes not #$t )" 1e#ns o2 t!e t!in4,#n& so t!e t!in4 is not !is inst*1ent o2 #$tin4 In t*t!, t!e inst*1ent o2 Go& is t!e 1in&, *nite& to Go&, #n& )" 1e#ns o2 w!i$! Go& #$tson )o&ies ot!ewise t!#n )" $e#tin4 T!e =!"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite&= is t!ee2oe not!in4 ot!e t!#n w!#t is t!e i11e&i#te inst*1ent o2 #t!in4 !#(in4 # /in$i/%e o2 #$tion in itse%2 An& !"/ost#ti$ *nion is t!e #$tion o2 # t!in4 w!i$! !#s in itse%2 # /in$i/%e o2 #$tin4 i11e&i#te%"t!o*4! #not!e t!in4 An& t!ese #e t!e e<*isites 2o !"/ost#ti$ *nion: -5 A t!in4 s*)sistin4 t!o*4! itse%2, ie !#(in4 in itse%2 # /in$i/%eo2 #$tin4, to w!i$! it is *nite& .5 So1e ot!e t!in4 w!i$! is *nite& 75 T!e #$tion o2 t!e s*)sistin4 t!in4 t!o*4! t!e *nite& t!in4 on # t!i&

t!in4, t!#t is, so t!#t t!e *nite& t!in4 is #n inst*1ent o2 t!e s*)sistin4 t!in4 >5 T!e i11e&i#$" o2 its #$tion, t!#t is, t!#t it &oes not #$tt!o*4! #not!e t!in4 to w!i$! t!e s#1e t!in4 on w!i$! it #$ts, #n& w!i$! is s#i& to )e *nite& to t!e 2ist t!in4, is not *nite& Fo t!e*nite& o2 t!e *nite& is t!e *nite& o2 t!e 2ist t!in4 ?!ee A is t!e *nitin4 t!in4, #n& B t!#t w!i$! is s#i& to )e *nite&: -5 A is # t!in4s*)sistin4 t!o*4! itse%2, .5 A #$ts on C t!o*4! B, 75 A acts immediately on B, that is, not through another thing B*t, "o* wi%% s#", #4#instt!e t!i& *%e, is not t!e )o&" o2 C!ist *nite& to t!e Deit"; Yes o2 $o*se, )*t it is *nite& to t!e Deit" not i11e&i#te%", )*t t!o*4! 1in&,so I s#" t!#t !ee A is not t!e Deit" #%one, )*t t!e Deit" to4et!e wit! e(e"t!in4 w!i$! is *nite& to it, o, w!i$! is t!e s#1e t!in4, t!et!i& *%e 1#" )e $on$ei(e& !ee #s 2o%%ows: A #$ts on B on%" t!o*4! t!#t on w!i$! A i11e&i#te%" #$ts, o t!o*4! #not!e t!in4 on w!i$!it i11e&i#te%" #$ts T!#t is, A &oes not #$t on B e0$e/t eit!e i11e&i#te%" o t!o*4! #n inte1e&i#te t!in4, o #t!e t!o*4! inte1e&i#"t!in4s s*)sistin4 t!o*4! t!e1se%(es w!i$! $ontin*o*s%" #$t i11e&i#te%" In t!is w#", t!e w!o%e $on$e/t o2 t!e !"/ost#ti$ *nion see1s/e2e$t #n& $o1/%ete to 1e6 Unti% now I !#(e wo3e& on t!is 1#tte 1ost%" in (#in T!ese wi%% )e #1#@in4 won&es to t!e S$!o%#sti$s  It s!o*%& )e note& t!#t e(en t!o*4! 1in& &oes not #$t $ontin*#%%" on )o&", it sti%% t!in3s B*t t!e &i22i$*%t" is, #s we s#i& #)o(e, t!#tt!ee is no *nion o2 1in& #n& )o&" e0$e/t t!o*4! t!e #$tion o2 t!e one on t!e ot!e, "et t!ee is no #$tion e0$e/t t!o*4! t!e i1/ession[A VI 1, p535] o2 1otion T!ee2oe t!ee wi%% )e no *nion e0$e/t t!o*4! t!e i1/ession o2 1otion On t!e one !#n& t!ee is no t!o*4!twit!o*t # *nion, )e$#*se to 1#3e itse%2 t!o*4!t is t!e #$tion o2 one t!in4 on #not!e, #n& on t!e ot!e !#n&, e(e" #$tion is not )etween*nite& t!in4s )" &e2inition o2 # *nion Fo # *nion is not $onti4*it", )*t $ontin*it", ie # $o11on 1otion o #$tion T!ee2oe w!en $e#te&t!in4s #e #t est, Go& wi%% 3now not!in4 #)o*t t!e1 I s#" in es/onse t!#t !e wi%% 3now t!#t t!e" #e #t est )e$#*se, ne4#ti(e%", !ewo*%& 3now i2 t!e" wee 1o(e& #n& "et t!is /o$ess o2 e#sonin4 &oes not o$$* in Go&, #%t!o*4! !e !#s ne4#ti(e 3now%e&4e o2 # t!in4ne4#ti(e )" itse%25 An& si1i%#%" wit! t!e 1in& An& t!ee is so1e t!o*4!t wit!o*t # *nion, n#1e%" t!#t w!i$! e0iste& #t t!e ti1e o2 t!e*nion, ie # t!o*4!t /e$e&in4 it, #n& t!is is #n #$t*#% *%e: wit!o*t # *nion t!ee is no t!o*4!t, n#1e%" # new t!o*4!t, #%t!o*4! t!e o%&t!o*4!t e1#ins Besi&es, not!in4 new !#//ens to estin4 )o&ies e0$e/t t!#t ot!es #//o#$! t!e1 #n& 1o(e #w#" 2o1 t!e1, w!i$! is3nown 2o1 t!ei *nion #n& 1otion, #n& #t t!#t ti1e t!ee is # t!o*4!t $o1/ose& 2o1 #n o%& #n& new t!o*4!t5 B*t in t*t!, "o* wi%% s#",1#n" t!in4s !#//en in # 1in& wit!o*t 1otion, so !ow wi%% Go& 3now t!e1, sin$e !e &oes not #$t on t!e #$t*#% 1in& t!o*4! itse%2 T!e#nswe is t!#t t!e 1in& is in&ee& not 1o(e&, )*t t!#t #%% o2 its #$tions #e #$$o1/#nie& )" # 1otion o2 t!e )o&ies to w!i$! it is *nite& #n&2o1 w!i$! Go& wi%% 3now its #$tions8 &e1ons wi%% not 3now t!e1, )e$#*se t!e" &o not #$t on t!ose )o&ies )*t t!o*4! )o&ies, #n&t!ee2oe t!e" &o not ente into t!e inteio )o&ies )*t on%" t!e s*2#$e o2 t!e $o/*s$%es o2 1in&s At #n" #te, Go& 2oe3nows #n& t!in3so2 #%% t!in4s #t on$e, )e$#*se not!in4 !#//ens #4#inst !is wi%%, t!ee2oe not!in4 !#//ens wit! !i1 3nowin4 it too He 3nows w!#t !e is4oin4 to &o, t!ee2oe !e 3nows w!#t t!e 2*t*e 1*st )e An& "et t!ee is no /o$ess o2 e#sonin4 in !i1, w!i$! s!o*%& so1eti1e )ee0/%#ine& 1oe $#e2*%%"  T!e <*estion is !ow # 1in& w!i$! is i1/%#nte& in t!e /oint o2 # )o&" in &issi/#tin4 1otion &oes not /eis! too S!o*%& it )e s#i& t!#t/oints &o not /eis! )e$#*se t!e" #e not /#ts o2 )o&ies )*t %i1its, #n& )e$#*se t!#t &e1onst#tion #)o*t )o&ies is in(#%i& wit! e4#& to/oints; Fo #t #n" inst#nt w!#tsoe(e # /oint is /esent in # $et#in /oint o2 s/#$e, )*t t!#t w!i$! e0ists in # )o&" )esi&es /oints isso1eti1es not in #n" /%#$e #n& t!ee2oe #t t!#t ti1e is not!in4 A1#@in4 B*t 2ew /eo/%e ' on%" t!e 1ost s*)t%e ' wi%% 4#s/ t!ese se$etso2 t!in4s  It is not#)%e t!#t t!e &o$tine o2 t!e So$ini#ns is 2# 1oe &#n4eo*s t!#n t!#t o2 t!e C#t!o%i$s Fo t!e C#t!o%i$ C!*$! wos!i/s on%"one Go&, #n& wos!i/s !i1 on%" )e$#*se !e is s*/e1e E(en t!o*4! it e$o4ni@es in !i1 # t!ee2o%& w#" o2 s*)sistin4, it neit!e &i(i&es o1*%ti/%ies Go& in t!is w#" Con(ese%", t!e So$ini#ns wos!i/ # )ein4 w!i$! t!e" !o%& to )e $e#te&, w!i$! t!e" &o not e$3on to )e t!es*/e1e Go&, #n& w!o1 t!e" t!in3 !#s #n essen$e &istin$t 2o1 t!e s*/e1e Go& T!ee2oe t!e" !#(e two Go&s T!e" wos!i/ # 1ee1#n, w!i%e we wos!i/ Go& in!#)itin4 # 1#n

NOTES:

8/12/2019 Leibniz - On the Incarnation of God, Or on the Hypostatic Union

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/leibniz-on-the-incarnation-of-god-or-on-the-hypostatic-union 2/2

1. Lei)ni@ is e2ein4 !ee to *sti#ni#n9s Codex , o Corpus jurus civilis: =Consi&ein4 t!#t we o2ten e$3on t!e Got!s o* &e(ote& #%%ies tow!o1 neit!e n#t*e no t!ei /#st %i2e !#s 4i(en s*$! 1in&s [#s to )e to ot!o&o0], we !#(e &e$i&e& to e%#0, to # $et#in e0tent, t!ese(eit" [o2 t!e %#ws] in t!ei e4#&, #n& /e1it t!e1 to )e o* #%%ies #n& to )e &e$o#te& wit! !onos, to t!e e0tent t!#t t!ose t!in4ssee1 4oo& to *s= Corpus juris civilis [Bo&" o2 $i(i% %#w] I-., /## -

2. /#$ti$e ?it! e4#& to t!e in$#n#tion o2 t!e son o2 GOD, o t!e !"/ost#ti$ *nion, t!ese t!in4s s!o*%& )e note& Fo # !"/ost#ti$*nion it is # e<*ie1ent t!#t t!ee #e si1i%# n#t*es deleted 

3. 1otion; Be$#*se 2o t!#t e#son t!e" #e inse/##)%e An& it s!o*%& )e note& t!#t t!ee is #s it wee # &is+*n$ti(e e<*ie1ent 2o!"/ost#ti$ *nion, 2o it e<*ies eit!e inse/##)i%it" deleted 

4. 6#4in#% note: An& !ee #%% 1i#$%es in )o&ies, t!e n#t*e o2 w!i$! is 3nown )" (e" 2ew, #e &is/e%%e& NB An4e%s $#nnot sti o sto/ #)o&" e0$e/t in #not!e w#" A%% 1i#$%es in )o&ies $onsist in $e#tin4 t!e1, #nni!i%#tin4 t!e1, sto//in4 o sti1*%#tin4 t!ei 1otion, 1o(in4t!e1 in #n inst#nt, o &e2%e$tin4 t!e1 2o1 t!ei o&in#" /#t! An4e%s #n& 1en $#nnot &o #%% t!ese t!in4s, 2o t!e" &ist*) #n o)+e$t on itso&in#" /#t! )" 1e#ns o2 #not!e )o&" 6in&s, t!o*4!, $#n 1o(e, sto/ #n& &e2%e$t t!e )o&ies w!i$! #e *nite& to t!e1

5. 6#4in#% note: ?e $#n #%so es/on& %i3e t!is: on%" # /oint is s*)st#nti#%%", ie !"/ost#ti$#%%" *nite& to # 1in&, #n& t!#t /oint is not#nni!i%#te& in 1otion In 1o(in4 # t!in4, !owe(e, Go&, &oes not #$t on /oints, #s 1in&s &o, )*t on t!e )o&" A&& #t t!e en&: #1#@in4

6. 6#4in#% note: NB A won&e2*% #n& not#)%e s/e$i1en o2 t!e &e2inition o2 t!e #n#%o4o*s, w!ee)" t!e 4en*s $#nnot )e &e2ine& e0$e/t )"# 1ention 1#&e o2 one /in$i/#% s/e$ies, #n& e(e"t!in4 e%se )" 1e#ns o2 t!#t