Lo schermo come condizione umana. Genesi, limiti e potenzialità delle nozioni in Leibniz

Leibniz’s concept of «notion» is the object of this paper. In order to inquire it, I discuss first of all Leibniz’s innatist theory, its relationship with experience and the importance of the latter for the development of knowledge. Then, I show that the “interaction” between innate ideas and experience makes our notions like screens: indeed, the reality is “partially” expressed through them. Thus, being notions essential for knowledge, we can conceive our condition as a screen. Nonetheless, I explain that notions do not keep us far from truth and reality. Generally speaking, they make the world simultaneously far and near to us: though notions are “just” representations, they are also the means through which we can improve our knowledge and deepen our perception of the world.