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This edit added a section to the Gottfried Leibniz page to summarize "The Best of all Possible Worlds" theory in his work, "The Monadology".
Between 18 - 21 November 1676, Leibniz met personally with [[Benedict de Spinoza]] discussing various philosophical topics, including the ontological argument for the existence of God.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz/</ref>
Between 18 - 21 November 1676, Leibniz met personally with [[Benedict de Spinoza]] discussing various philosophical topics, including the ontological argument for the existence of God.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/leibniz/</ref>
== The Best of all Possible Worlds Theory ==
In The Monadology, Gottfried Leibniz wrote a small piece that now connects to contemporary interests known now as “the best of all possible worlds”. In sections 53-55 he covers this topic. In section 53 Leibniz embraces that in, “the idea of God” (Leibniz 53), there is room for an infinite amount of universes. But unlike the contemporary topic of conversation over the concept an infinite number of parallel universes, Leibniz rejects that there is more than one universe at any given time. Leibniz says that God must have some reason to pick one universe over another. In section 54 Leibniz goes on to explain why God would choose one universe in preference to another.
In section 54, Leibniz uses very specific language, “suitability or degrees of perfection” (54) to describe the qualities of this universe which is the best out of all other imaginable universes. Suitability or degrees of perfection describes God’s reason for choosing is based not just a total amount of goodness in the universe, but also in the suitability of it; presumably the suitability of the particular world/ universe to be able to enact His plan. Leibniz sums up God’s reason choosing a certain world as, “with each possible world’s right to claim existence being proportional to the perfection it contains” (54).
Lastly, in section 55, Leibniz credits God’s ability to select a universe that is the most suitable and has the highest degree of perfection to God’s wisdom. This wisdom gives Him the ability to know which universe to choose, God’s goodness giving Him the ability to choose, and God’s infinite power lets Him create the universe. Later, in section 59, Leibniz says, “This theory (which I venture to say I have now demonstrated) is the only one that properly displays God’s greatness” (59). While it may be a stretch to say that this theory is the only one that shows God’s goodness, from a Christian perspective, it is amazing to think that God can not only conceive of an infinite number of universes, but also know the qualities of each and constantly pick the best universe possible. Leibniz’s “the best of all possible worlds” theory within The Monadology is not only an incredible concept, but one that holds weight from a Christian worldview.
http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/leibniz1714b.pdf
== Denominational background ==
== Denominational background ==