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19407 | We want good education and sociability, rather than lots of moral precepts |
Full Idea: The true practical philosophy consists in good rules for education, intercourse and sociability among men, rather than in general precepts on virtues and duties. | |||
From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Bouvet [1697], p.165) | |||
A reaction: I would interpret that as saying that the main aim of morality is to enable people to hold a good conversation. I've heard worse theories of morality. The remark shows why Leibniz has little to say explicitly about morality. |