Monads and Points, Contiguity and Transcreation: On the Development of Leibniz’s Metaphysics of the Continuum

In this essay I explore Leibniz’s changing views on the relation of substance to the continuum, with special attention to his calling the fundamental units of reality “metaphysical points”. I trace the development of his thought on this question, and on his notions of “physical” and “mathematical” points, from the early 1670s through to the end. I note certain enigmas on the way; namely, his notions of “transcreation” and “indistant” points, his peculiar characterization of contiguity, and the apparent violation of the Law of Continuity in texts of 1676 and 1705. I then argue that considerable light is thrown on these enigmas, and on both his earlier and later views, by manuscripts dating from the 1690s and later that have only recently been published.