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Single Idea 19344

[from 'The Theodicy' by Gottfried Leibniz, in 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / a. Divine morality ]

Full Idea

It is certain that God sets greater store by a man than a lion; nevertheless it can hardly be said with certainty that God prefers a single man in all respects to the whole of lion-kind.

Gist of Idea

God prefers men to lions, but might not exterminate lions to save one man

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (The Theodicy [1710], p.189), quoted by Franklin Perkins - Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed 2.IV

Book Reference

Perkins,Franklin: 'Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed' [Continuum 2007], p.51


A Reaction

Lovely problems arise when you guess at God's values! We have the same problem. Would you kill a poacher who was wiping out the last remaining lions? How many lions would you kill to save a human?