Discourse on Metaphysics
by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz · Discours de métaphysique
Assigned by 4 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 1686
- Form
- Treatise
- Language
- French
- Length
- Short · 60 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Difficult4 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendDiscourse on Metaphysics and Other Essays, translated by Daniel Garber and Roger AriewHackett, 1991The Discourse with the Monadology and Principles of Nature and Grace in one short, accurate volume.
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A treatise in thirty-seven sections that Leibniz wrote in 1686 and summarised for the theologian Arnauld, unpublished in his lifetime. It argues that God, being perfect, has created the best of all possible worlds, and that every individual substance contains in its complete concept everything that will ever happen to it, so that each substance mirrors the whole universe. Leibniz reconciles this with human freedom, criticises Descartes on force and motion, and closes with the soul's union with God.
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The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Discourse on Metaphysics are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
