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Source: Sämtliche schriften und briefe series VI volume 4 Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften (ed) p 1636 Date: March 1689 - March 1690? Translated from the Latin View this translation in PDF format (10k) Back to home page Search texts by category: METAPHYSICS MIND, BODY AND SOUL FREE WILL AND NECESSITY SCIENCE POLITICS, LAW AND ETHICS THEOLOGY |
LEIBNIZ: IF A NECESSARY BEING IS POSSIBLE, IT FOLLOWS THAT IT EXISTS[A VI 4, p1636] This proposition: if a necessary being is possible, it follows that it exists is the acme of modal theory, and marks the first transition from possibility to being, or from the essences of things to existences. And because such a transition is necessary, otherwise nothing would exist, it even follows that a necessary being is possible, and thus exists. And indeed, unless there is a necessary being, no reason for the existence of things could be given, nor a cause why anything exists. Or, so that I may say it more concisely, it is necessary that something exists, and therefore a necessary being exists. It must be seen whether this consequence is sufficient. For it seems to follow from this that at least some beings are conditionally necessary. But the conditional necessity must be established on some absolutely necessity. © Lloyd Strickland 2005 |