monad

/ˈmɒnæd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːnæd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmō-ˌnad/ (ame, mw)

monad — 名詞

1. in philosophy, a basic single being or unit that is seen as complete in itself a

1.名詞C2
釋義

單子

不可再分的基本個體

in philosophy, a basic single being or unit that is seen as complete in itself and not made of smaller parts.

例句

In class, Hugo described the soul as a monad that cannot be split.

課堂上，Hugo 把靈魂描述成一個無法再分割的單子。

describe X as a monad

Gita wrote that each person is a monad with a private inner life.

Gita 寫道，每個人都是一個擁有私密內在生命的單子。

a monad with its own inner life

同義詞
  • unit

    much broader and more everyday; it does not suggest a philosophical idea

  • entity

    formal word for something that exists, without the idea of being indivisible

  • atom

    usually a scientific term for a physical particle rather than a metaphysical being

文法句型

a monad

describe X as a monad

treat X as a monad

用法筆記

Mostly used in philosophy, especially when discussing Leibniz. It refers to a self-contained basic being, not to an everyday physical object or machine part.