If mass is “converted” into energy in some physical interactions, what does that mean for Leibniz’s pre-established harmony?

Leibniz’s pre-established harmony Vs theory of Relativity

Leibniz’s pre-established harmony is a philosophical concept that suggests that the apparent causal relationships we observe in the world are not actually causal in nature, but rather are the result of a pre-established harmony between the minds of all substances in the universe. In other words, the universe is not a collection of interacting causal agents, but rather a collection of separate, self-contained monads that act in harmony with one another.

The conversion of mass into energy in some physical interactions is a concept that arises from Einstein’s theory of relativity and is expressed by the famous equation E=mc², which states that energy and mass are interchangeable and can be converted into each other.

The idea of mass being “converted” into energy in some physical interactions, such as in nuclear reactions, does not necessarily contradict Leibniz’s pre-established harmony. This is because Leibniz’s theory does not deny the existence of physical interactions, but rather suggests that they are the result of a pre-established harmony between the monads that make up the interacting entities.

In Leibniz’s view, the monads have a pre-established harmony that allows them to act in concert with one another, even though they do not causally interact. So, in the case of mass being “converted” into energy, this could be seen as an example of the pre-established harmony at work. The monads that make up the mass and the energy are in harmony with one another, allowing for the apparent transformation to occur.

Overall, the concept of mass-energy equivalence does not necessarily conflict with Leibniz’s pre-established harmony, as it is still possible to interpret such physical interactions in terms of the pre-established harmony between the monads that make up the interacting entities.