The Shorter Leibniz Texts A Collection of New Translations

This volume contains more than 60 original translations of papers written by the German philosopher Gottfried Wihelm Leibniz (1646-1716). As well as contributing to Leibniz scholarship, it functions as an excellent introductory text for students approaching Leibniz for the first time. By focusing on Leibniz's numerous shorter philosophical writings rather than his lengthy and/or impenetrable pieces, this volume aims to be more 'student friendly' than rival anthologies of Leibniz's work. Editor-translator Lloyd Strickland contributes an introduction explaining the background and content. The translations themselves are drawn from the key areas of Leibniz's thought and categorised accordingly. And as the texts are selected from throughout Leibniz's career, and on a range of topics, together they provide a balanced picture of Leibniz's philosophy. The book will be sufficient in itself for Leibniz students, and will prepare them for other, more difficult volumes of his work. As many of the selections appear in English for the first time ever (although all the translations will be original), the book will be of great value to more advanced students, and to specialists in Leibniz studies.

AcknowledgementsBibliographyIntroductionA note on the translationsPart I. MetaphysicsA. Creation1. On first truths (middle - end 1680)2. On the reason why these things exist rather than other things (March - August 1689)3. On the ultimate origination of things (23 November 1697)4. Letter to Johann Christian Schulenburg (29 March 1698)5. Letter to André Morell (4/14 May 1698) B. Truth and Substance1. On the perfect concept of substances (1677?)2. The principle of human knowledge (winter 1685/1686?)3. Remarks on Mr Arnauld's letter concerning my proposition: that the individual concept of each person includes once and for all everything that will ever happen to him (May 1686)4. Letter to Antoine Arnauld (4/14 July 1686)5. Logical-metaphysical principles (spring - autumn 1689?)6. On body and substance truly one (March 1690) 7. Letter to Pierre Dangicourt (1716)Part II: Mind, Body and SoulA. Souls and their nature1. Difficulties concerning the nature and origin of souls (summer 1683 - winter 1684/1685)2. Souls are either created every day or are coeval with the world (summer 1683 - winter 1684/1685)3. On the creation of souls and the origin of minds (summer 1683 - winter 1684/1685)4. On the souls of men and beasts (1710)B. The relationship between soul and body1. On the system of occasional causes (March 1689 - March 1690?)2. New system of the nature of the communication of substances, as well as the union that exists between the soul and the body (27 June 1695) 3. Explanation of New System (3 January 1696)C. The fate of souls1. Letter to Electress Sophie (4 November 1696)2. Letter to Electress Sophie (6 February 1706)Part III. Free Will and NecessityA. The nature of free will1. On free will (summer 1678 - winter 1680/1?)2. On freedom and spontaneity (after 1690) 3. Conversation about freedom and fate (1699 - 1703)B. Contingency and necessity1. Middle knowledge (November 1677)2. On freedom from necessity in choosing (summer 1680 - summer 1684)3. A note on freedom and necessity (1680-4)4. On contingency (spring - autumn 1689)5. Notes on Pierre Bayle's Reply to the Questions from a Provincial (1706)Part IV: ScienceA. Matter and body1. Demonstration against atoms taken from the contact of atoms (23-4 October 1690)2. Whether the essence of body consists in extension (18 June 1691)            3. Letter to Johann Bernoulli (August - September 1698)4. Letter to Thomas Burnett (1699)5. Letter to Burcher de Volder (24 March/3 April 1699)6. Letter to Burcher de Volder (30 June 1704)B. The laws of nature1. On a general principle useful in explaining the laws of nature through a consideration of the divine wisdom (1687)2. Letter to Pierre Bayle (1702)3. Letter to Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (7 April 1703)C. Biology1. On the origin of fossils (early 1680s?)2. Protogaea (selections) (1690-1)3. Letter from G. W. Leibniz (1710)Part V. Law and EthicsA. Law1. Preface to the Diplomatic Code of People's Rights (1693)2. On the death penalty (after 10 July 1697)3. Expiation (1707-10)B. Virtue1. On generosity (1686-7)2. Letter to Electress Sophie (mid-August (?) 1697)3. Definitions (1701-5?) 4. The true piety (before 1710?)C. Pleasure and happiness1. On the happy life (spring - autumn 1676)2. Happiness (1694-8) 3. A dialogue (after 1695?)VI. TheologyA. The existence of God1. On the reality of truth (August 1677)2. On necessary or eternal truths (August 1677)3. A proof of the existence of God from his essence (January 1678)4. Letter to the editor of the Journal de Trévoux (1701)B. Optimism and meliorism1. The elements of true piety (early 1677 - early 1678?)2. On the continuous increase in the perfection of the world (March 1689 - March 1690?)3. Whether the world increases in perfection (1694-6?)4. Letter to André Morell (29 September 1698)5. Letter to Louis Bourguet (5 August 1715)6. Letter to Louis Bourguet (mid-to-late March 1716)7. Letter to Louis Bourguet (3 April 1716)8. Letter to Louis Bourguet (2 July 1716)C. Sin and evil1. On sin and original sin (April - October 1686?)2. Can the bad outcomes of wicked actions be ascribed to wickedness? (1696-7)3. Letter to Isaac Jacquelot (6 October 1706)4. Letter to Louis Bourguet (late 1712)Index