Discourse on Metaphysics

Discourse on Metaphysics Correspondence with Arnauld and Monadology

Discourse on Metaphysics Correspondence with Arnauld and Monadology

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

1873 Press

First Published 1902

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ISBN 0-594-04123-6

Contents

Metaphysics
Correspondence Relating to the Metaphysics
The Monadology

Editor's Preface

The present volume of Leibniz's writings, which now takes its place in the "Philosophical Classics" alongside the works of Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, and Immanuel Kant, is made up of three separate treatises: (1) The Discourse on Metaphysics, (2) Leibniz's Correspondence with Arnauld, and (3) The Monadology. Together they form a composite and logical whole, and afford an excellent survey of Leibniz's thought. The first two, the Metaphysics and the Correspondence with Arnauld, have never before been translated into English, while the translation of the Monadology is new. The thanks of the public for this translation are due to Dr. George R. Montgomery, instructor in philosophy in Yale University, and for the suggestion of making the translation to Dr. G. M. Duncan, professor of philosophy in Yale University. The clear and admirable résumé of the history of philosophy in Libniz's time and of his own system from the pen of the late Paul Janet, Member of the French Institute, was added at the suggestion of the editor. Thus with the index, all the necessary material has been furnished in this volume for a comprehension of the thought of one of the most versatile geniuses the world has produced.

"What a marvellously gifted man Leibniz was!" admirably remarks Dr. Duncan. "The king of Prussia truly said of him, 'He represents in himself a whole Academy', and George I. of England was quite justified in saying, 'I count myself happy in possessing two kingdoms, in one of which I have the honor of reckoning a Leibniz, and in the other a Newton, among my subjects.' A brilliant mathematician, contesting with Newton the honor of discovering the Calculus; a gifted psychologist and epistemologist, equalling and surpassing, in his New Essays, Locke's famous Essay; a profound theologian, writing the most famous book on Theodicy which has ever been printed; a learned historian, producing a history of the House of Brunswick commended by Gibbon himself; a far-sighted statesman and diplomatist, honored at several of the most powerful courts of Europe; a great philosopher, founder of Editor's Preface. modern German speculative philosophy and worthy to be named with Kant himself; and, withal, an eminent scientist, 'a man of science, in the modern sense, of the first rank,' as Professor Huxley calls him,—these are a few of his claims to consideration."

And the same author remarks as to the value of the present selection from his writings:

"The profound and quickening thought of this most comprehensive thinker since Aristotle was never presented by him in a more simple and untechnical form than in his Discourse on Metaphysics and the correspondence with Arnauld relating thereto. These together with the Monadology, the last systematic presentation of his philosophy written by him a quarter of a century later, are here, at a nominal price, made accessible to the general reading public and to university students. If one will read these letters between Leibniz and Arnauld, and then the Discourse on Melaphysics, and finally the Monadology—and that is the best order in which to read the book-one will be introduced in the simplest and the best possible way to Leibniz's philosophy. The Discourse on Metaphysics is probably the best account of his philosophy which he ever wrote. His views underwent but little modification between the writing of the Discourse of Metaphysics and the writing of the Monadology. The only important difference is in the introduction in the latter of a more artificial terminology"

In the present volume, therefore, The Open Court Publishing Company hopes to have rendered a considerable service to the philosophical public.

Thomas J. McCormack

LA SALLE, ILL.,

    August 20, 1902.

Discourse on Metaphysics Correspondence with Arnauld and Monadology

Metaphysics

Metaphysics

I. Concerning the divine perfection and that God does everything in the most desirable way.

The conception of God which is the most common and the most full of meaning is expressed well enough in the words: God is an absolutely perfect being. The implications, however, of these words fail to receive sufficient consideration. For instance, there are many different kinds of perfection, all of which God possesses, and each one of them pertains to him in the highest degree.

We must also know what perfection is. One thing which can surely be affirmed about it is that those forms or natures which are not susceptible of it to the highest degree, say the nature of numbers or of figures, do not permit of perfection. This is because the number which is the greatest of all (that is, the sum of all the numbers), and likewise the greatest of all figures, imply contradictions. The greatest knowledge, however, and omnipotence contain no impossibility. Consequently power and knowledge do admit of perfection, and in so far as they pertain to God they have no limits.

Whence it follows that God who possesses supreme and infinite wisdom acts in the most perfect manner not only metaphysically, but also from the moral standpoint. And with respect to our selves it can be said that the more we are enlightened and informed in regard to the works of God the more will we be disposed to find them excellent and conforming entirely to that which we might desire.

II. Against those who hold that there is in the works of God no goodness, or that the principles of goodness and beauty are arbitrary.

Therefore I am far removed from the opinion of those who maintain that there are no principles of goodness or perfection in the nature of things, or in the ideas which God has about them, and who say that the works of God are good only through the formal reason that God has made them.