Peirce and Leibniz on Continuity and the Continuum

D. A. Anapolitanos; D. Christopoulou

doi:10.1515/mp-2019-0008

Article

Peirce and Leibniz on Continuity and the Continuum

D. A. Anapolitanos and D. Christopoulou

Published/Copyright: February 14, 2020

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From the journal Metaphysica Volume 21 Issue 1

Abstract

This paper discusses some of C. S. Peirce’s insights about continuity in his attempt to grasp the concept of the mathematical continuum. After a discussion of his earlier notions which he called ‘Kanticity’ and ‘Aristotelicity’ we arrive at his later belief that a continuum is rather a system of potential points. In his mature views, Peirce grasps a continuum as “a whole range of possibilities” without points at all. In the sequel, we turn to take into account some of Leibniz’s attempts to deal with continuity and the continuum and we compare Peirce and Leibniz’s approaches detecting certain impressive similarities and differences.

Keywords: number; point; limit; continuity; continuum; line

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Published Online: 2020-02-14

Published in Print: 2020-04-28

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https://doi.org/10.1515/mp-2019-0008

Keywords for this article

number; point; limit; continuity; continuum; line