To Die, to Sleep, Perchance to Dream... On a Leibnizian Echo in Diderot

This article addresses the topic of death and immortality in Leibniz and Diderot. The plaisanterie by Diderot that perception continues after death (based on considering sensitivity a general property of matter) is compared to Leibniz’ position regarding monad incessancy. This will lead to an analysis of Leibniz’ reasons to defend not only the incessancy, but even the immortality of certain monads (the spirits)