Professional Documents
Culture Documents
VOLUME 2
Managing Editor:
SIMO KNUUTIILA, University of Helsinki
Associate Editors:
Editorial Consultants:
The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS
AND LETTERS
SECOND EDITION
The selections contained in these volumes from the papers and letters of Leibniz are
intended to serve the student in two ways: first, by providing a more adequate and
balanced conception of the full range and penetration of Leibniz's creative intellectual
powers; second, by inviting a fresher approach to his intellectual growth and a
clearer perception of the internal strains in his thinking, through a chronological
arrangement. Much confusion has arisen in the past through a neglect of the develop-
ment of Leibniz's ideas, and Couturat's impressive plea, in his edition of the Opuscu/es
et fragments (p. xii), for such an arrangement is valid even for incomplete editions.
The beginning student will do well, however, to read the maturer writings of Parts II,
III, and IV first, leaving Part I, from a period too largely neglected by Leibniz criticism,
for a later study of the still obscure sources and motives of his thought.
The Introduction aims primarily to provide cultural orientation and an exposition
of the structure and the underlying assumptions of the philosophical system rather
than a critical evaluation. I hope that together with the notes and the Index, it will
provide those aids to the understanding which the originality of Leibniz's scientific,
ethical, and metaphysical efforts deserve.
My indebtedness to all who have in some measure aided me in the preparation of
the translations and interpretations is so extensive as to forbid detailed acknowledg-
ment. Professor Paul Schrecker, whose knowledge of the thought forms and relations
of Leibniz, and indeed, of seventeenth century thought in general, is unsurpassed,
has read and corrected a large number of the translations, particularly in Volume I,
and should be credited with setting norms for accuracy and adequacy.
Professor Elizabeth DeLacey has exercised extensive editorial supervision, caught
many defects, and suggested changes which have consistently improved the work.
Beyond the extensive work of these, there are many others who deserve my gratitude
for help rendered. A fellowship of the Rosenwald Foundation in 1938 and a grant
from an anonymous source in 1951 enabled me to begin a detailed study of Leibniz,
to make use of the Hanover manuscripts, and to confer with European scholars.
The editors of the Prussian Academy edition, and the directors of the Hanover Landes-
bibliothek, gave generous advice and opportunities for study. Professor Helmut Kuhn,
now of the University of Munich, checked the translations. For detailed answers to
many questions I am indebted to more friends and colleagues than I can conveniently
name.
Publication was subsidized in part by a grant from the Research Committee of the
University Center in Georgia, generously enlarged by Emory University. More
important even than this, however, has been the climate of study provided by Emory
University and its administration during troubled years of war and of uncertain
peace.
viii PREFACE
All parentheses in the text are Leibniz's own, though some of his parentheses have
been removed. All editorial interpolations are in brackets. Leibniz's own underscoring
has been retained except when he used it to indicate direct quotation. The keys used
throughout in references to the editions of Leibniz and related works may be identified
in the Bibliography.
L.E.L.
Preface vii
Bibliography 63
PART I. MAINZ AND PARIS, 1666-76 71
1. Dissertation on the Art of Combinations, 1666 (Selections) 73
I. Demonstration of the Existence of God 73
II. Corollaries for Disputation 74
III. Cum Deo! 76
Definitions 77
Problems 78
2. A New Method for Learning and Teaching Jurisprudence, 1667 (Selections
from Part I) 85
Part I. General and Common to All Faculties: on a Basis for Studies in
General 85
3. Letter to Jacob Thomasius, 1669 93
4. Letter to Thomas Hobbes, 1670 105
5. Theological Writings Related to the Catholic Demonstrations, 1668-70 109
I. The Confession of Nature against Atheists, 1669 109
II. A Fragment on Dreams 113
III. On Transubstantiation, 1668(?) 115
Supplement: Notes on the Eucharist, 1668 118
6. Preface to an Edition of Nizolius, 1670 (Selections) 121
x T ABLE OF CONTENTS
Index 722