Leibniz's Metaphysics of Harmony

Central to G.W. Leibniz's (1646-1716) contention that we live in 'the best of all possible worlds' is the thesis that we inhabit a harmoniously ordered universe. However, despite Leibniz's numerous remarks on the matter, no consensus exists on what exactly universal harmony entails. This e-book examines Leibniz's writings chronologically and offers a new assessment of the meaning and function of harmony in Leibniz's metaphysics. The author shows that Leibniz's conception of harmony undergoes significant revision in the 1670s. He maintains that understanding this revision is crucial for grasping how Leibniz employs the idea of harmony in arguments for the mind's incorporeal nature and its 'preestablished harmony' with the body, as well in arguments for the world's intelligibility and for the privileged moral status of rational agents. The e-book thus aims to broaden our picture of the development of Leibniz's philosophy and to deepen our appreciation for the irreducible role harmony plays in it.

Edward W. Glowienka is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. His research focuses on metaphysics and ethics in the early modern period, particularly in the work of G.W. Leibniz.