Single Idea 7842

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism]

Full Idea

Leibniz sailed closer to the winds of unbelief than Spinoza did.

Gist of Idea

Leibniz was closer than Spinoza to atheism

Source

report of Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690]) by Matthew Stewart - The Courtier and the Heretic Ch.16

Book Reference

Stewart,Matthew: 'The Courtier and the Heretic' [Yale 2007], p.293


A Reaction

This is an unusual view, but Stewart's view is that whereas Spinoza is always sincere in his writings, Leibniz is inclined to put a very conservative spin on his opinions. A key question for Leibniz is "Is God merely a monad?"