G. W. Leibniz: De la Biología a la metafísica. La Respuesta vtalista de Leibniz: Una ontología unificada

for leibniz our bodies have perfection, that is to say, life. each part of this live matter which composes them would be too privileged if it alone had an advantage that distinguished it infinitely and essentially from all the other that surrounding it: is, therefore, necessary that there be life and perception everywhere. thus, therefore, by virtue of the principle of uniformity, there cannot be more than a gradual difference - in variety of perfection- between the organic thing and the inorganic thing: so full of life it is the stone as the human body, and there is not between these two things -sub specie aeterni- any distinction. in substance they are the same thing. life consists basically, for leibniz, in having perception and appetitus. since our perceptions at times are clear, conscious or with reflection, and other times confused and dark, it is natural to say that there will be live beings whose perception will be dark and confused and without reflection.