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 61
... necessity , which is called also logical and metaphysical and sometimes geometrical , and which would alone be formidable in this connexion , does not exist in free actions , and that thus free- dom is exempt not only from constraint ...
... necessity , which is called also logical and metaphysical and sometimes geometrical , and which would alone be formidable in this connexion , does not exist in free actions , and that thus free- dom is exempt not only from constraint ...
Page 74
... necessary , so that the opposite implies contradiction . Such are the truths whose necessity is logical , metaphysical or geometrical , which one cannot deny without being led into absurdities . There are others which may be called ...
... necessary , so that the opposite implies contradiction . Such are the truths whose necessity is logical , metaphysical or geometrical , which one cannot deny without being led into absurdities . There are others which may be called ...
Page 86
... necessity is called by philosophers ' logical ' or ' metaphysical ' , that is to say , whose opposite implies contradiction . They both admit also that revela- tion will be able to combat maxims whose necessity is called ' physical ...
... necessity is called by philosophers ' logical ' or ' metaphysical ' , that is to say , whose opposite implies contradiction . They both admit also that revela- tion will be able to combat maxims whose necessity is called ' physical ...
Page 87
... metaphysical necessity and physical necessity , and that the first excludes exceptions even in the case of Mysteries , they are not yet sufficiently agreed upon the rules of interpreta- tion , which serve to determine in what cases it ...
... metaphysical necessity and physical necessity , and that the first excludes exceptions even in the case of Mysteries , they are not yet sufficiently agreed upon the rules of interpreta- tion , which serve to determine in what cases it ...
Page 135
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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