Leibniz and Hegel already criticized the concept of substance as the identity before Nietzsche. Leibniz stresses the fact that the essence of the substance as conceived of as monad lies in the force, and tries to transforms the static atom into the dynamic substance. In virtue of the concept of force, he gives the metaphysical foundation for the dynamics. Leibniz differentiates himself from Descartes in that he considers the essence of thing as the force, while Descartes sees the essence of thing as the extension. Force is divided into two aspects, namely vis primitiva and vis derivativa. By this two kinds of force, Leibniz solves the problem of the inner principle of movement of things. Moreover, he explains the universe, nature, our human essence, and their interrelationship through the concept of force. Hegel was also influenced by Leibniz.
Hegel succeeded Leibniz and Kant, and after publishing the Phenomenology of Spirit 1807, tried to replace the concept of the static substance of Descartes to the concept of the subject as the movement by stressing the inversion of substance into the subject. The novel concept of the subject is also conceived of the replacement of the concept of the substance in Schelling. Not only Leibniz, but also Hegel determines the essence of the thing as force in the perspective of the dynamic physics. The force is not a mere One, but is duplicated into the solliciting and the sollicited force.
Hegel thoght that the entire nature is construed by this kind of force, and likewise all things lie in the organic and interpenetrated relationship. It is worth noting that Leibniz' and Hegel's concept of the force are not restricted by the physical realm, but expanded to the ethical realm. In this respect we find the similarity between Leibniz and Hegel. But we should take the fact into the consideration that Hegel rejects the pre-established harmony among forces, and tries forms his peculiar concept of force. For him, forces do not lie in the external relationship, but in the reciprocal relationship thorough attraction and repulsion. Owing to this concept of force Hegel overcomes the antinomy between phenomena and noumena in Kant.
Likewise Leibniz and Hegel establish the modern concept of the subject by criticizing the traditional concept of the substance and the Cartesian concept of the substance as the mere identity.