Ideas from 'Exigency to Exist in Essences' by Gottfried Leibniz [1690], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Leibniz Selections' by Leibniz,Gottfried (ed/tr Wiener,Philip P.) [Scribners 1951,]].
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unexpand these ideas
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 5. Reason for Existence
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19400
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Possibles demand existence, so as many of them as possible must actually exist
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Full Idea:
From the conflict of all the possibles demanding existence, this at once follows, that there exists that series of things by which as many of them as possible exist.
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From:
Gottfried Leibniz (Exigency to Exist in Essences [1690], p.91)
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A reaction:
I'm in tune with a lot of Leibniz, but my head swims with this one. He seems to be a Lewisian about possible worlds - that they are concrete existing entities (with appetites!). Could Lewis include Leibniz's idea in his system?
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19401
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God's sufficient reason for choosing reality is in the fitness or perfection of possibilities
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Full Idea:
The sufficient reason for God's choice can be found only in the fitness (convenance) or in the degree of perfection that the several worlds possess.
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From:
Gottfried Leibniz (Exigency to Exist in Essences [1690], p.92)
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A reaction:
The 'fitness' of a world and its 'perfection' seem very different things. A piece of a jigsaw can have wonderful fitness, without perfection. Occasionally you get that sinking feeling with metaphysicians that they just make it up.
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10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / a. Possible worlds
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19402
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The actual universe is the richest composite of what is possible
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Full Idea:
The actual universe is the collection of the possibles which forms the richest composite.
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From:
Gottfried Leibniz (Exigency to Exist in Essences [1690], p.92)
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A reaction:
'Richest' for Leibniz means a maximum combination of existence, order and variety. It's rather like picking the best starting team from a squad of footballers.
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