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 11
... soul of truth in every opinion . From the moment when Leibniz became aware of himself as an independent thinker , he was the man of a doctrine . Sometimes he called it ' my principles ' , sometimes ' the new system ' , some- times ' pre ...
... soul of truth in every opinion . From the moment when Leibniz became aware of himself as an independent thinker , he was the man of a doctrine . Sometimes he called it ' my principles ' , sometimes ' the new system ' , some- times ' pre ...
Page 13
... had the authority of Aristotle , the master of scholasticism . Under the name of entelechy Leibniz was upholding the soul of scholastic doctrine , while retrenching the limbs and outward flourishes 13 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
... had the authority of Aristotle , the master of scholasticism . Under the name of entelechy Leibniz was upholding the soul of scholastic doctrine , while retrenching the limbs and outward flourishes 13 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
Page 18
... soul ? It cannot . Then is my soul homeless ? Or is it to be identified with the activity and fortunes of a single atomic constituent of my body , a single cog in the animal clockwork ? If so , how irrational ! For the soul does not ...
... soul ? It cannot . Then is my soul homeless ? Or is it to be identified with the activity and fortunes of a single atomic constituent of my body , a single cog in the animal clockwork ? If so , how irrational ! For the soul does not ...
Page 19
... souls at all , or any sensation . He had to admit soul in man , but he still denied the substantial unity of the human body . It was put together like a watch , it was many things , not one : if Descartes had lived in our time , he ...
... souls at all , or any sensation . He had to admit soul in man , but he still denied the substantial unity of the human body . It was put together like a watch , it was many things , not one : if Descartes had lived in our time , he ...
Page 20
... soul with the unitary gland might do justice to a mechanistical philosophy , but it did not do justice to the soul's own consciousness of itself . The soul's consciousness is the ' idea ' or ' representation ' of the life of the whole ...
... soul with the unitary gland might do justice to a mechanistical philosophy , but it did not do justice to the soul's own consciousness of itself . The soul's consciousness is the ' idea ' or ' representation ' of the life of the whole ...
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