problem of evil | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 253: Leibniz on the Problem of Evil (Part One)

September 28, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

On Gottfried Leibniz’s Theodicy (1710).

Why does God allow so many bad things to happen? Leibniz thought that by the definition of God, whatever He created must be the best of all possible worlds, and his theodicy presents numerous arguments to try to make that less counter-intuitive given how less-than-perfect the world seems to us.

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Ep. 253: Leibniz on the Problem of Evil (Part One for Supporters)

September 27, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Gottfried Leibniz’s Theodicy (1710).

Why does God allow so many bad things to happen? Leibniz thought that by the definition of God, whatever He created must be the best of all possible worlds, and his theodicy presents numerous arguments to try to make that not so counter-intuitive given how less-than-perfect the world seems to us.

PREVIEW-Episode 62: Voltaire’s Novel “Candide”

September 5, 2012 by Mark Linsenmayer 24 Comments

On Candide: or, Optimism, the novel by Voltaire (1759). Is life good? Popular Enlightenment philosopher Leibniz argued that it’s good by definition. God is perfectly good and all-powerful, so whatever he created must have been as good as it can be; we live in the best of all possible worlds. Voltaire loads this satirical adventure story up with horrific violence to demonstrate that Leibniz’s position is just silly. Life is filled with suffering, and human nature is such that even in peace and prosperity, we’re basically miserable. Yet we still love life despite this. Tend your garden!

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