New Essays on Leibniz's Theodicy

Abstract

In 1710, G.W. Leibniz published Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man, and the Origin of Evil. This book, the only one he published in his lifetime, established Leibniz’s reputation more than anything else he wrote. The Theodicy brings together many different strands of Leibniz’s own philosophical system, and provides a rare snapshot of how Leibniz intended these disparate aspects of his philosophy to come together into a single, overarching account of divine justice in the face of the world’s evils. At the same time, Leibniz’s Theodicy is a fascinating window into the context of philosophical theology in the 17th century. As much as anyone else, Leibniz had his finger on the pulse of the intellectual currents of his time, and this comes out very clearly in the Theodicy. Leibniz engages with all of the major lines of theological dispute of that time, demonstrating the encyclopaedic breadth of his understanding of the issues. Leibniz’s account in the Theodicy remains one of the most abiding systematic accounts of how evil is compatible with divine goodness. Any treatment on the problem of evil must, at some point, come to grips with Leibniz’s proposed solution. This volume celebrates the 300th anniversary of the publication of the Theodicy, a prime opportunity to revisit and deepen our understanding of this important text.