TheodicyIn this 1710 treatise, Gottfried Liebniz's only book-length work, he applies the idea of philosophical "optimism"-that we live in the best of all possible worlds-to the "problem of evil"-If a benevolent God exists, why do terrible things happen? He explores the possibility that humanity's happiness is not necessarily part of God's plan. Much of Leibniz's thinking in the realm of the sciences flowed from his philosophy-he believed the universe to operate under simple, intelligible, interconnected rules. Understanding how he approached the metaphysical world and humanity's place in it is vital to understanding his contributions to modern science. The impact of the work of German mathematician GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ (1646-1716) on modern science and technology is all but incalculable. His notation for infinitesimal calculus-which he developed independently of Newton-remains in use today, and his invention of binary counting is the basis for modern computing. He was a powerfully influential philosopher as well, and is still considered, alongside Descartes and Spinoza, one of the great 17th-century rationalists. |
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Page 18
... under a name by which it might hope to smell more sweet , entelechy . Nothing so tellingly revealed the difficulties of the new philo- sophy in dealing with living bodies as the insufficiency of 18 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
... under a name by which it might hope to smell more sweet , entelechy . Nothing so tellingly revealed the difficulties of the new philo- sophy in dealing with living bodies as the insufficiency of 18 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
Page 19
... difficulty about the special case of it pro- vided by incarnation . Why should not a form of conscious life so interact with what would otherwise be dead matter as to ' in- dwell ' it ? But the very principle of the new philosophy ...
... difficulty about the special case of it pro- vided by incarnation . Why should not a form of conscious life so interact with what would otherwise be dead matter as to ' in- dwell ' it ? But the very principle of the new philosophy ...
Page 21
... difficulty still remains — it is purely arbitrary , after all , that a unitary con- sciousness should be attached to , and represent , a mechanical collection of things which happen to interact in a sort of pattern . If there is a ...
... difficulty still remains — it is purely arbitrary , after all , that a unitary con- sciousness should be attached to , and represent , a mechanical collection of things which happen to interact in a sort of pattern . If there is a ...
Page 35
... difficulties , though they show the great extent of his genius . He will have it , for example , that the soul of a dog acts independently of outward bodies ; that it stands upon its own bottom , by a perfect spontaneity with respect to ...
... difficulties , though they show the great extent of his genius . He will have it , for example , that the soul of a dog acts independently of outward bodies ; that it stands upon its own bottom , by a perfect spontaneity with respect to ...
Page 37
... I declare first of all that I am very glad I have proposed some small difficulties against the system of that great philosopher , since they have occasioned some answers whereby that subject has 37 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
... I declare first of all that I am very glad I have proposed some small difficulties against the system of that great philosopher , since they have occasioned some answers whereby that subject has 37 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
Contents
7 | |
49 | |
73 | |
ESSAYS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD AND THE FREEDOM | 123 |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTROVERSY REDUCED TO FORMAL | 377 |
EXCURSUS ON THEODICY 392 | 392 |
OBSERVATIONS ON THE BOOK CONCERNING THE ORIGIN | 405 |
CAUSA DEI ASSERTA | 443 |
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absolute according action admit already animals answer appears argument Aristotle Augsburg Confession Augustine Bayle believe body Carneades cause choice choose Chrysippus Cicero connexion consequence contingent contrary create creatures decrees Descartes determined difficulties divine doctrine dogma Epicurus equipoise eternal existence faith freedom give God's grace happen happy harmony Hobbes human ideas imperfection impossible inclination indifference infinite judgement justice kind knowledge laws Leibniz less Malebranche Manichaeans matter maxim means metaphysical metaphysical necessity mind Molinists monads moral evil motion Mysteries nature necessary necessity never nevertheless objection observed oneself opinion passage Paulicians perfect philosophers physical evil pleasure possible pre-established Pre-established Harmony principle produce prove punishment question reason reflexions Reply representation Rorarius Schoolmen sense Socinians sophism soul speak Spinoza substance sufficient Supralapsarians Theodicy theologians theology therein thereof things Thomists thought tion true truth understanding universe virtue wisdom wish Zoroaster