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 26
... existence in response to environment , and modelling them- selves on environment . They must all mutually reflect environ- ment or they would not be representations ; but they must also exist as themselves and in their own right or ...
... existence in response to environment , and modelling them- selves on environment . They must all mutually reflect environ- ment or they would not be representations ; but they must also exist as themselves and in their own right or ...
Page 27
... existence of that monad , and apart from it the monad is not . The monads do not achieve a harmony , they are a harmony , and therefore they are pre - established in har- mony . Leibniz denied that he invoked God to intervene in nature ...
... existence of that monad , and apart from it the monad is not . The monads do not achieve a harmony , they are a harmony , and therefore they are pre - established in har- mony . Leibniz denied that he invoked God to intervene in nature ...
Page 28
... existence throughout , because it is finite . All argu- ments to God's existence from a particular gap in our account of the world of finites are to be rejected . They do not indicate God , they indicate the failure of our power to ...
... existence throughout , because it is finite . All argu- ments to God's existence from a particular gap in our account of the world of finites are to be rejected . They do not indicate God , they indicate the failure of our power to ...
Page 29
... existence and action of things . What we can and must enquire into further , is the nature of the divine thoughts which are thus obeyed . They must be understood to be volitions or decrees . There are indeed two ways in which things ...
... existence and action of things . What we can and must enquire into further , is the nature of the divine thoughts which are thus obeyed . They must be understood to be volitions or decrees . There are indeed two ways in which things ...
Page 30
... existence of any creature , that creature's existence must observe the limits prescribed by eternal reason : it cannot , for example , both have and lack a certain characteristic in the same sense and at the same time ; nor can it ...
... existence of any creature , that creature's existence must observe the limits prescribed by eternal reason : it cannot , for example , both have and lack a certain characteristic in the same sense and at the same time ; nor can it ...
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