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

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The Rationalists: LeibnizThe Rationalists: Leibniz

Rationalism and TheodicyRationalism and Theodicy

Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

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OutlineOutline


1. Introduction

2. Rationalism

3. Theodicy

4. Conclusion

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Introduction: Introduction: Leibniz, Life and WorksLeibniz, Life and Works


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

Works:- Theodicy, New Essays- Discourse on Metaphysics, Monadology

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Introduction: Introduction: Basics OrientationsBasics 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

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OutlineOutline


1. Introduction

2. Rationalism

3. Theodicy

4. Conclusion

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Rationalism (1) Rationalism (1) Senses and ReasonSenses 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!

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Rationalism (2) Rationalism (2) Eternal TruthsEternal Truths


Truths of facts, Contingency and Sufficient ReasonsContingency exists, but not chance

Truths of Reasoning Truths of Facts

Necessary Contingent

Analytic Non-Analytic

`All bachelors are non married’

`Andrew is not married’

Principle of Contradiction Principle of Sufficient Reason

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Rationalism (3) Rationalism (3) ConclusionConclusion


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

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OutlineOutline


1. Introduction

2. Rationalism

3. Theodicy

4. Conclusion

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Theodicy (1) Theodicy (1) God’s ExistenceGod’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

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Theodicy (2) Theodicy (2) God’s NatureGod’s Nature


Theodicy, Par 7:- Understanding (all possibles)- Will (chose which are actual)- Power (made it actual)- Infinite Understanding, Will and Power - Unique

Most importantly: God is all perfections Unique, unlimited, and contains all the possibles

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Theodicy (3) Theodicy (3) God’s BenevolenceGod’s Benevolence


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 perfect God must have created a perfect worldIncluding morally perfect

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Theodicy (4) Theodicy (4) The Creation’s PerfectionThe Creation’s Perfection


How to make sense of this? - Not everything is wonderful!- Perfection: the best balance between simplicity of causes and complexity of effects

We must commit to the belief that the Creation is most perfect

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OutlineOutline


1. Introduction

2. Rationalism

3. Theodicy

4. Conclusion

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Conclusion on Leibniz’ GodConclusion on Leibniz’ God


An original point of view: the modal point of view

One crucial starting point: God is all perfection

Documents

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