Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: Difference between revisions
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'''Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz''' (1646-1716) was, with [[Descartes]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]], one of the leading [[rationalism|rationalists]], and perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called ''[[monad]]s.'' He is also celebrated for his discovery of the [[infinitesimal calculus]] at about the same time as [[Newton]]. He is also well known among non-philosophers for his view, expressed for example in his ''Theodicy,'' that "this is the best of all possible worlds"--which was [[lampoons of philosophers|lampooned]] by [[Voltaire]] in the character of Dr. Pangloss in his ''[[Candide]].'' | '''Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz''' (1646-1716) was, with [[Descartes]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]], one of the leading [[rationalism|rationalists]], and perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called ''[[monad]]s.'' He is also celebrated for his discovery of the [[infinitesimal calculus]] at about the same time as [[Newton]] with whom Leibniz had a famous and unpleasant priority dispute about this discovery. He is also well known among non-philosophers for his view, expressed for example in his ''Theodicy,'' that "this is the best of all possible worlds"--which was [[lampoons of philosophers|lampooned]] by [[Voltaire]] in the character of Dr. Pangloss in his ''[[Candide]].'' | ||
Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "[[Discourse on Metaphysics (essay by Leibniz)|Discourse on Metaphysics]]" and "[[Monadology]]." | Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "[[Discourse on Metaphysics (essay by Leibniz)|Discourse on Metaphysics]]" and "[[Monadology]]." | ||
Revision as of 09:05, 2 July 2008
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was, with Descartes and Spinoza, one of the leading rationalists, and perhaps best known for his view that the universe is ultimately composed of "simple souls" called monads. He is also celebrated for his discovery of the infinitesimal calculus at about the same time as Newton with whom Leibniz had a famous and unpleasant priority dispute about this discovery. He is also well known among non-philosophers for his view, expressed for example in his Theodicy, that "this is the best of all possible worlds"--which was lampooned by Voltaire in the character of Dr. Pangloss in his Candide.
Leibniz was also virtually unique among pre-20th century philosophers in that he wrote mostly short essays and letters, and only one book-length work. Perhaps his best-known essays are "Discourse on Metaphysics" and "Monadology."