Leibniz: Philosophical Papers, 1677–1686

This volume brings together 52 of Leibniz's writings on religion and theology, including the book­length Examination of the Christian Religion, in which he defends the Roman Catholic position on various matters of controversy, despite being a lifelong Lutheran himself. Also included are the complete texts from an unfinished project, Apology for Catholic Truth, in which Leibniz writes in the guise of a Catholic. Other writings reflect several of Leibniz's long­term projects: constructing a philosophical defence of Christianity to show the compatibility of its doctrines with reason; undermining philosophies he believed could lead to atheism, in particular those of Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza; and developing methods for resolving theological disputes. This collection traces the evolution of these projects during Leibniz's formative first decade in Hanover (1677–1686), offering the most comprehensive English-language selection of such writings to date. Strickland has returned to Leibniz's original manuscripts to produce accurate, carefully annotated translations that document textual variations, deletions, and marginalia. Of the 52 texts included, 29 appear in English for the first time, one has never been published in any language, and another has only been partially published in its original form. In addition to the translations, the volume features a substantial introductory essay on Leibniz's life, work, and writings on religion and theology from 1677 to 1686, along with detailed explanatory notes on each text, providing context, background, and the rationale for their dating.