Philosophical Papers and Letters: A Selection

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Springer Science & Business Media, Dec 31, 1975 - History - 736 pages
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.
 

Contents

Psychology
1
Structure and Purpose
44
Leibnizs Consistency and Influence
54
Bibliography
60
A New Method for Learning and Teaching Jurisprudence 1667 Selections
85
Letter to Jacob Thomasius 1669
93
Letter to Thomas Hobbes 1670
105
Preface to an Edition of Nizolius 1670 Selections
121
Letter of Mr Leibniz on a General Principle Useful in Explaining the Laws of Nature through a Consideration of the Divine Wisdom to Serve as a Re...
351
Introduction to Parts III and IV
355
HANOVER TO THE DEATH OF ERNEST AUGUST 169098
357
Letter to Arnauld 1690
359
On the Method of Distinguishing Real from Imaginary Phenomena
363
On the True Theologia Mystica ca 1690?
367
A Study in the Logical Calculus
371
Critical Thoughts on the General Part of the Principles of Descartes 1692
383

Elements of Natural Law 167071
131
Studies in Physics and the Nature of Body 1671
139
An Example of Demonstrations about the Nature of Corporeal Things Drawn from Phenomena
142
Letter to Magnus Wedderkopf 1671
146
Letter to Antoine Arnauld 1671 Selection
148
Letter to Simon Foucher with Notes on Fouchers Reply to Des Gabets 1675
151
Selections from the Paris Notes 1676
157
Letter to Henry Oldenburg 1675
165
Two Notations for Discussion with Spinoza 1676
167
HANOVER TO THE ITALIAN JOURNEY 167687
171
On a Method of Arriving at a True Analysis of Bodies and the Causes of Natural Things 1677
173
Letter to Arnold Eckhard 1677
177
Dialogue 1677
182
Letter to Herman Conring 1678
186
Letter to Walter von Tschirnhaus 1678
192
On the Ethics of Benedict de Spinoza 1678
196
What is an Idea? 1678
207
Letters to Nicolas Malebranche 1679 Selections
209
Two Dialogues on Religion ca 1678 Selections
213
Dialogue between Polidore and Theophile
216
On the General Characteristic ca 1679
221
On Universal Synthesis and Analysis or the Art of Discovery and Judgment 1679?
229
Two Studies in the Logical Calculus 1679
235
Specimen of Universal Calculus
240
Studies in a Geometry of Situation 1679
248
Supplement
249
On Analysis Situs
257
Letter to John Frederick Duke of BrunswickHanover 1679
259
On Freedom ca 1679
263
First Truths ca 168084
267
Selections from Leibnizs Correspondence 167984
272
To Philipp 1680
273
To Veit Ludwig von Seckendorf 1683
275
On the Elements of Natural Science ca 168284
277
An Introduction on the Value and Method of Natural Science
280
Meditations on Knowledge Truth and Ideas 1684
291
A Brief Demonstration of a Notable Error of Descartes and Others Con cerning a Natural Law 1686
296
Discourse on Metaphysics 1686
303
Correspondence with Arnauld 168687 Selections
331
On Part II
391
Correspondence with Huygens 169294 Selections
413
From the Ethical and Legal Writings 16931700
421
From the Preface to the Mantissa Codicis Juris Gentium
424
On Wisdom
425
On Natural Law
428
A Classification of Societies or Communities
429
On the Correction of Metaphysics and the Concept of Substance 1694
432
Specimen Dynamicum 1695
435
A New System of the Nature and the Communication of Substances as well as the Union between the Soul and the Body 1695
453
Second Explanation of the New System 1696
459
Letter to Gabriel Wagner on the Value of Logic 1696
462
Letters to Des Billettes 169697
472
An Anagogical Essay in the Investigation of Causes ca 1696
477
On the Radical Origination of Things 1697
486
Clarification of the Difficulties which Mr Bayle has found in the New System of the Union of Soul and Body 1698
492
On Nature Itself or on the Inherent Force and Actions of Created Things 1698
498
HANOVER UNDER GEORGE LOUIS 16981716
509
Correspondence with John Bernoulli 169899
511
Correspondence with De Volder 16991706
515
Letter to Varignon with a Note on the Justification of the Infinitesimal Calculus by That of Ordinary Algebra 1702
542
Justification of the Infinitesimal Calculus by That of Ordinary Algebra
545
On What is Independent of Sense and of Matter 1702
547
Reflections on the Doctrine of a Single Universal Spirit 1702
554
Reflections on the Common Concept of Justice 1702?
561
Reply to the Thoughts on the System of PreEstablished Harmony contained in the Second Edition of Mr Bayles Critical Dictionary Article Rorarius
574
Considerations on Vital Principles and Plastic Natures by the Author of the System of PreEstablished Harmony 1705
586
Letter to Hansch on the Platonic Philosophy or on Platonic Enthusiasm 1707
592
Correspondence with Des Bosses 170915
596
Conversation of Philarète and Ariste following a Conversation of Ariste and Theodore ca 1711
618
Remarks on the three Volumes Entitled Characteristics of Men Manners Opinions Times 1711 1712
629
The Principles of Nature and of Grace based on Reason 1714
636
The Monadology 1714
643
Letters to Nicolas Remond 171415
654
Letters to Louis Bourguet 171415
661
The Metaphysical Foundations of Mathematics after 1714
666
The Controversy between Leibniz and Clarke 171516
675
Index
722
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