Universal Connection, Infinity, and Leibniz's Rejection of Atomism

This paper examines an argument developed by Leibniz against physical atomism, which has been largely overlooked in the scholarship. As outlined in the Introduction, this specific argument is closely tied to Leibniz's conception of infinity and, in particular, to his theory of the universal connection of all things. The central sections analyse its principal formulation in a challenging text from 1689, highlighting its connections to key aspects of Leibniz's metaphysics, including his account of individuation and his theory of individual substances as 'mirrors of the universe.' After addressing a potential objection to the argument, the conclusion shows how Leibniz's reduction of physical atoms to fictions nonetheless allows for a partial and provisional rehabilitation of physical atoms. [Publisher's text]