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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 81
Page 14
... necessary to find a fresh philosophy , in which entelechy and mechanism might be accommodated side by side . If one had asked any ' modern ' of the seventeenth century to name the ' ancient ' doctrine he most abominated , he would most ...
... necessary to find a fresh philosophy , in which entelechy and mechanism might be accommodated side by side . If one had asked any ' modern ' of the seventeenth century to name the ' ancient ' doctrine he most abominated , he would most ...
Page 31
... necessary in applying this to God is the omission of the word ' seeming ' . His choice is in virtue of the appeal of the simply best . The other point causes more trouble . We choose between possibilities which arise for us out of our ...
... necessary in applying this to God is the omission of the word ' seeming ' . His choice is in virtue of the appeal of the simply best . The other point causes more trouble . We choose between possibilities which arise for us out of our ...
Page 40
... necessary instrument of the almost infinite variety of changes in a human body : will that variety have the exactness here required ? Will it never disturb the correspondence of those changes with the changes of the soul ? This seems to ...
... necessary instrument of the almost infinite variety of changes in a human body : will that variety have the exactness here required ? Will it never disturb the correspondence of those changes with the changes of the soul ? This seems to ...
Page 44
... necessary instruments for such an execution . Now however infinite the power and knowledge of God be , he cannot perform with a machine deprived of a certain piece , what requires the concourse of such a piece . He must supply that ...
... necessary instruments for such an execution . Now however infinite the power and knowledge of God be , he cannot perform with a machine deprived of a certain piece , what requires the concourse of such a piece . He must supply that ...
Page 45
... necessary that in default of such a knowledge , there should be in the soul a set of particular instruments , each of which would be a necessary cause of such and such a thought ? Must they not be so placed and disposed as to operate ...
... necessary that in default of such a knowledge , there should be in the soul a set of particular instruments , each of which would be a necessary cause of such and such a thought ? Must they not be so placed and disposed as to operate ...
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 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
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