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The Rationalists: Leibniz Rationalism and Theodicy

The Rationalists: Leibniz Rationalism and Theodicy. Outline. 1. Introduction. 2. Rationalism. 3. Theodicy. 4. Conclusion. Life: 1646 – 1716 – Lutheran educated elite The last universal genius Education: Scholastics Late discovery of new philosophy (when diplomat)

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The Rationalists: Leibniz Rationalism and Theodicy

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  1. The Rationalists: Leibniz Rationalism and Theodicy Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  2. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Rationalism 3. Theodicy 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  3. Life: • 1646 – 1716 – Lutheran educated elite • The last universal genius • Education: Scholastics • Late discovery of new philosophy (when diplomat) • Rest of his life: Hanover – historian Introduction: Leibniz, Life and Works • Works: • Theodicy, New Essays • Discourse on Metaphysics, Monadology • Difficulty: Extremely prolific writer and Changing philosophy Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  4. Introduction: Basics Orientations • Philosophy of the Middle Ground: • Between the new science and the Scholastic Tradition • Between Rationalism and Empiricism • Theodicy: • Take seriously the idea of God’s being all perfect • Explain that the world we live is is the most perfect • The Best Possible World: • Infinity of Possible Worlds – One actual world • Principle of Sufficient Reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  5. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Rationalism 3. Theodicy 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  6. Rationalism (1) Senses and Reason • Men act like animals in three quarters of their action: • Sense perception, memory and induction •  For and Against the Empiricist • Eternal Truths: • Known by the mind only • Superior kind of knowledge: universal, necessary and eternal Senses and Reason - Senses are not sufficient but are necessary triggers! • A compromise between naive empiricism and radical rationalism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  7. Rationalism (2) Eternal Truths Truths of facts, Contingency and Sufficient Reasons Contingency exists, but not chance • A step away from Spinoza’s necessitarism : not everything is necessary, but everything has a reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  8. Rationalism (3) Conclusion • Taking the empiricist challenge seriously • Senses may well be necessary for us to learn about eternal truths, but not sufficient • Taking the necessitarian challenge seriously • Not everything is necessary, but everything has a cause • One question is whether Leibniz manages to forge a coherent view along these lines ! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  9. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Rationalism 3. Theodicy 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  10. Theodicy (1) God’s Existence • Proofs of God’s existence • Cosmological Argument 1: cause of contingent actualities • Cosmological Argument 2: cause of all possibles / essences • Ontological Argument: God as a necessary being, i.e. a being whose mere possibility implies its actuality • Reworks the traditional proofs in an original manner Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  11. Theodicy (2) God’s Nature Most importantly: God is all perfections Unique, unlimited, and contains all the possibles • Theodicy, Par 7: • Understanding (all possibles) • Will (chose which are actual) • Power (made it actual) • Infinite Understanding, Will and Power • Unique • Reworks the traditional proofs in an original manner Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  12. Theodicy (3) God’s Benevolence A perfect God must have created a perfect world Including morally perfect • How to make sense of this? • God follows the truth and the good • Opposite view: God decides on everything – truth and good included • Leibniz: arbitrariness and lack of value of the Creation / Creator •  True Freedom is enlightened even for God • A true benevolent God creates the world according to what he understands is true and good Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  13. Theodicy (4) The Creation’s Perfection We must commit to the belief that the Creation is most perfect • How to make sense of this? • - Not everything is wonderful! • Perfection: the best balance between simplicity of causes and complexity of effects • The world we live in is the BEST POSSIBLE WORLD Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  14. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Rationalism 3. Theodicy 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  15. Conclusion on Leibniz’ God One crucial starting point: God is all perfection An original point of view: the modal point of view • Leibniz is both more traditional and more original than his contemporaries when it comes to the analysis of God Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

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