1. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Kharishma Chang #6

2. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Who is he?
What have he done?
What is he famous for?
What did he believe in?
Why is he important to us?

3. What have he contributed?
Universal Genius
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Logic
Philosophy of religion
Mathematics
Physics
Geology
Jurisprudence
History

4. What is he famous for? Physics Mathematics Philosophy -Metaphysics
Infinitesimal calculus
Relativity theory
Binary machine
Determinant calculus
Sentence of energy maintenance
Calculator
Binary arithmetics
Continuity principle
The term of „function“
theodizee
monadology
-Metaphysics
-Logic
-etc…
Philosophy

5. Metaphysics?
philosophy explaining the fundamental nature of all “being”

6. What about his philosophy?
Cause?
Effect?
Optimism
Rationalism
Best possible Universe!
Theory of Monads
Reason!

7. Theory of Monads Sometimes known as Parallelism. Substances
Pre-established harmony
All materials are phenomena
immaterial, individual, non-interacting elements of the universe

8. Best of All Possible Worlds
The problem of evil
Argument for atheism – God cannot exist
lack of goodness is a kind of evil
Leibniz’s solution:
Best world
God is omnipotent and omniscient

9. Best of All Possible worlds
WE NEED EVIL PEOPLE?
Objections
If God were all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, then this world would be the best possible world.
But surely this world is not the best possible world.
Thus, God is not all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good.
Leibniz’s response
How do you know it’s not the best possible world?
Evil people are needed in order to make this the best possible universe.

10. Why do we need evil people?
Evil makes us appreciate the good
Evil makes a greater good possible
Everything is connected
The balance of good over evil

11. Bibliography
Leibniz, Gottfried W. "New Essays on Human Understanding Preface and Book I: Innate Notions." (n.d.): n. pag. Jonathan Bennett, Apr <
Murray, Michael. "Leibniz on the Problem of Evil." Stanford University. Stanford University, 04 Jan <
"Leibniz' Response to the Problem of Evil and Suffering." Leibniz on Evil and Suffering. N.p., n.d. <
“Rationalism - Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz”. N.p., n.d.
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J J O'Connor and E F Robertson. "Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz.“ Oct 1998
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