more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
God does not decide whether Adam should sin, but whether that series of things in which there is an Adam whose perfect individual notion involves sin should nevertheless be preferred to others.
Gist of Idea
God doesn't decide that Adam will sin, but that sinful Adam's existence is to be preferred
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (A Specimen of Discoveries [1686], p.78)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.78
A Reaction
Compare whether the person responsible for setting a road speed limit is responsible for subsequent accidents. Leibniz's belief that the world could have been made no better than it is (by an omnipotent being) strikes me as blind faith, not an argument.
| 2658 | The gods blame men for having vices, but they could have given us enough reason to avoid them [Cicero] |
| 19338 | Augustine said evil does not really exist, and evil is a limitation in goodness [Augustine, by Perkins] |
| 5037 | God doesn't decide that Adam will sin, but that sinful Adam's existence is to be preferred [Leibniz] |
| 5050 | Evil serves a greater good, and pain is necessary for higher pleasure [Leibniz] |
| 3956 | People are responsible because they have limited power, though this ultimately derives from God [Berkeley] |
| 1474 | Moral evil may be acceptable to God because it allows free will (even though we don't see why this is necessary) [Plantinga, by PG] |