Irenaeus, Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
351,954
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 33:
Line 33: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
→The Best of all Possible Worlds Theory
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.
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
http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/leibniz1714b.pdf
Encyclopedia Britannica's article ''Best of all possible worlds'' states:
{{Cquote|Best of all possible worlds, in the philosophy of the early modern philosopher [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz] (1646–1716), the thesis that the existing world is the best world that God could have created.
Leibniz’s argument for the doctrine of the best of all possible worlds, now commonly called Leibnizian [[optimism]], is presented in its fullest form in his work Théodicée (1710; [[Theodicy]]), which was devoted to defending the justness of God..
In rough outline, the argument proceeds as follows:
'''1.''' God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent;
'''2.''' God created the existing world;
'''3.''' God could have created a different world or none at all (i.e., there are other possible worlds);
'''4.''' Because God is omnipotent and omniscient, he knew which possible world was the best and was able to create it, and, because he is omnibenevolent, he chose to create that world;
'''5.''' Therefore, the existing world, the one that God created, is the best of all possible worlds.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/best-of-all-possible-worlds Best of all possible worlds], Encyclopedia Britannica</ref>}}
== Denominational background ==
== Denominational background ==