Andrea Poma 
The Impossibility and Necessity of Theodicy 
The “Essais” of Leibniz

This book provides an analytical interpretation of Leibniz’s ‚Essais de Théodicée‘ with wide-ranging references to all his works. It shows and upholds many thesis: Leibniz’s rational conception of faith, his rational notion of mystery, the reformation of classical ontology, and the importance of Leibniz’s thought in the tradition of the critical idealism. In his endeavor to formulate a theodicy, Leibniz emerges as a classic exponent of a non-immanentist modern rationalism, capable of engaging in a close dialogue with religion and faith. This relation implies that God and reason are directly involved in posing the challenge and that the defence of one is the defence of the other. Theodicy and logodicy are two key aspects of a philosophy which is open to faith and of a faith which is able to intervene in culture and history.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of abbreviations and symbols.- 1 Introduction. – 1.1 Theodicy.- 1.2 Philosophical Theodicy.- 1.3 The Theodicy of Leibniz.- 2True Piety.- 2.1 Truth and Appearance.- 2.2 The Fundamental Truths of Faith.- 2.3 Light and Virtue.- 2.4 The Love of God.- 2.5 Fatum Christianum.- 3 Faith and Reason.- 3.1 The General Terms of the Controversy.- 3.2 Reason.- 3.3 Truth over and against Reason: Mystery.- 3.4 Faith and Apologetics: Comprehending and Upholding.- 3.5 The Antagonist of the Theodicy: Sceptcism.- 4 Apologetic Arguments in the Theodicy.- 4.1 The Brief.- 4.2 The Legal Arguments.- 4.3 The Apologetic Arguments.- 4.4 The Antagonist of the Theodicy: Gnosis.- 5 Predetermination and Free Will.- 5.1 Absolute Necessity vs. Hypothetical and Moral Necessity.- 5.2 Contingency.- 5.3 The Will.- 5.4 Freedom.- 6 Evil and the Best of All Possible Worlds.- 6.1 The Principle of “the Best”.- 6.2 The Best of all Possible Worlds.- 6.3 Evil.- 6.4 Evil in the Best of all Possible Worlds.- 7 God and the Reason Principle.- 7.1 Divine Attributes: Faculties and Values.- 7.2 The Central Role of Wisdom.- 7.3 The Existence of God.- 7.4 The Necessary Being and the Supremely Perfect Being.-7.5 God and the Reason Principle.- 8 Conclusion.- 8.1 The Theodicy of Leibniz.- 8.2 Philosophical Theodicy.- 8.3 Theodicy.- Appendix One. The Metaphor of the “Two Labyrinths” and its Implications in Leibniz’s Thought.- Appendix Two. The reasons of Reason According to Leibniz.- Appendix Three. From Ontology to Ethics: Leibniz vs. Eckhard.- Appendix Four. Moral Necessity in Leibniz.- Index Nominum.