Leibniz on the Illumination of the Agent Intellect

Abstract

How does Leibniz think of the relationship between God and the human intellect? Does he admit some form of divine illumination, or does his account of the intellect leave neither need nor room for any relation beyond the creation and expression shared with nonrational substances? Leibniz’s strong opposition to monopsychism and vision-in-God seems to suggest the latter. However, his commitment to the difference between sense and intellect being based on the creature’s ability to reflect, affords a more positive answer. Intellects are uniquely illuminated because in participating in divine reflection, they grasp the absoluteness of the divine essence through seeing their perspective as a perspective.