early modern philosophy

  • Leibniz: The Best of All Possible Worlds

    According to Leibniz, the actual world is the best of all possible worlds. He outlines a simple argument for this conclusion in The Monadology, §§53-55. The argument proceeds as follows: God has the idea of infinitely many universes. Only one of these universes can actually exist. God’s choices are subject to the principle of sufficient reason, that…