Philosophical Papers and Letters

742 Pages·1989·34.413 MB·English

by  Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (auth.), Leroy E. Loemker (eds.)

GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS AND LETTERS
The New Synthese Historical Library
Texts and Studies in the History of Philosophy
VOLUME 2
Managing Editor:
SIMO KNUUTIILA, University of Helsinki
Associate Editors:
DANIEL ELLIOT GARBER, University of Chicago
RICHARD SORABJI, University ofL ondon
Editorial Consultants:
JAN A. AERTSEN, Free University, Amsterdam
ROGER ARIEw, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
E. JENNIFER ASHWORTH, University ofW aterloo
MICHAEL AYERS, Wadham College, Oxford
GAIL FINE, Cornell University
R. J. HANKINSON, University of Texas
JAAKKO HINTIKKA, Boston University, Finnish Academy
PAUL HOFFMAN, University of California, Riverside
DAVID KONSTAN, Brown University
RICHARD H. KRAUT, University ofI llinois, Chicago
ALAIN DE LIBERA, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Sorbonne
JOHN E. MURDOCH, Harvard University
DAVID FATE NORTON, McGill University
LUCA OBERTELLO, Universita degli Studi di Genova
ELEONORE STUMP, St. Louis University
ALLEN WOOD, Cornell University
The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS
AND LETTERS
A Selection Translated and Edited, with an Introduction by
LEROY E. LOEMKER
SECOND EDITION
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS
DORDRECHT ! BOSTON ! LONDON
ISBN-13: 978-90-277-0693-5 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-010-1426-7
DOl: 10.1007/978-94-0 I 0-1426-7
Published by Kluwer Academic Publishers,
P.O. Box 17,3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
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D. Reidel, Martinus Nijhoff, Dr W. Junk and MTP Press.
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First edition: 1956 by Chicago University Press, Chicago
Second edition: 1969 by D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht
Second edition/second print: 1989 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
printed Oil acidfi'ec paper
All Rights Reserved
© 1989 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
Softcover reprint of the hardcover I st Edition 1989
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To Priscilla

PREFACE TO THE FIRST 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
To acknowledge with gratitude the social co-operation required in such work is a
pleasure which does not, however, remove the uneasy recognition that the responsi
bility for errors and other blights on the usefulness of these translations, being the
fruits of solitary decision, must be borne by the translator and editor himself.
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.
Emory University. Georgia
The appearance of a corrected edition of these Leibniz translations provides an op
portunity to thank many who have suggested improvements in the text, and in particu
lar Professor L. J. Russell of Birmingham and Professor G. H. R. Parkinson of
Reading for their numerous corrections. I must also acknowledge gratfully the help
given by Mrs. Linda Cornett, Mrs. Margaret Wood, and Mr. J. Brooke Hamilton in
making the textual changes involved, and that of Mr. Grant Luckhardt in revising
the Index.
L.E.L.
Emory University, 1969
T ABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface vii
Introduction: Leibniz as Philosopher 1
I. The 17th Century 2
II. Leibniz's Life and Work 4
III. The Metaphysical Pattern 13
IV. Leibniz's Method 19
V. Logic and the Principles of Truth and Reality 23
VI. Mathematics and Philosophy 28
VII. Physics and the Realm of Nature 31
VIII. Biology 35
IX. Psychology 37
X. Theory of Knowledge 41
XI. Summary: Structure and Purpose 44
XII. Ethics and Social Thought 46
XIII. Theology 49
XIV. Leibniz's Consistency and Influence 54
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
7. Elements of Natural Law, 1670-71 131
8. Studies in Physics and the Nature of Body, 1671 139
I. The Theory of Abstract Motion: Fundamental Principles 139
II. An Example of Demonstrations about the Nature of Corporeal Things
Drawn from Phenomena 142
9. Letter to Magnus Wedderkopf, 1671 146
10. Letter to Antoine Arnauld, 1671 (Selection) 148
11. Letter to Simon Foucher, with Notes on Foucher's Reply to Des Gabets,
1675 151
12. Selections from the Paris Notes, 1676 157
13. Letter to Henry Oldenburg, 1675 165
14. Two Notations for Discussion with Spinoza, 1676 167
PART II. HANOVER TO THE ITALIAN JOURNEY, 1676-87 171
15. On a Method of Arriving at a True Analysis of Bodies and the Causes of
Natural Things, 1677 173
16. Letter to Arnold Eckhard, 1677 177
17. Dialogue, 1677 182
18. Letter to Herman Conring, 1678 186
19. Letter to WaIter von Tschirnhaus, 1678 192
20. On the Ethics of Benedict de Spinoza, 1678 196
Part I. On God 196
21. What is an Idea? 1678 207
22. Letters to Nicolas Malebranche, 1679 (Selections) 209
23. Two Dialogues on Religion, ca. 1678 (Selections) 213
I. Dialogue between Poliander and Theophile 213
II. Dialogue between Polidore and Theophile 216
24. On the General Characteristic, ca. 1679 221
25. On Universal Synthesis and Analysis, or the Art of Discovery and Judgment,
1679(?) 229
26. Two Studies in the Logical Calculus, 1679 235
I. Elements of Calculus 235
II. Specimen of Universal Calculus 240
27. Studies in a Geometry of Situation, 1679 248
I. Letter to Christian Huygens, 1679 248
II. Supplement 249
III. On Analysis Situs 254
28. Letter to John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Hanover, 1679 259
29. On Freedom, ca. 1679 263
30. "First Truths", ca. 1680-84 267
31. Selections from Leibniz's Correspondence, 1679-84 272
I. To Christian Philipp, 1679 272
II. To Philipp, 1680 273
III. To Frantyois de la Chaise, 1680 273
IV. To Veit Ludwig von Seckendorf, 1683 275
V. To Walter von Tschirnhaus, 1684 275