Evil, Good and Freedom in the Best of Possible Worlds Cover Image

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Evil, Good and Freedom in the Best of Possible Worlds

Author(s): Rūta Marija Vabalaitė
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Metaphysics, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Visuomeninė organizacija »LOGOS«
Keywords: Leibniz; theodicy; compossibility; evil; good; necessity; freedom;

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with problems of evil, good, necessity and freedom in the philosophy of Leibniz. It also compares Leibniz‘s thinking with that of other philosophers. My considerations are based upon Leibniz‘s “Theodicy. Essays on the Goodness of God the Freedom of Man and the origin of Evil”, “New Essays on Human Understanding” and other shorter texts of Leibniz. My article highlights the justification of metaphysical, physical and moral evil. It analyzes the differences between the absolute and the hypothetical, metaphysical and moral necessity, and the relations between determination, freedom and necessity. The free will and the principle of the best that motivates intelligent beings are analyzed. Finally, it examines the concept of good as pleasure that motivates the will. Here special attention is paid to the original concepts of semi-pleasure and semi-suffering.

  • Issue Year: 2010
  • Issue No: 64
  • Page Range: 114-122
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Lithuanian