Leibniz and the Problem of Evil

LEIBNIZ’S CONCEPTION OF THE PROBLEM OF EVIL BY OKOJIE E. PETER [e-mail] MAY 2013 INTRODUCTION For many centuries, philosophers have been discussing evil, how it exists in the world, and how this relates to God. The discussion on evil and its relations to us is not an easy one though. It is commonly called the problem of evil. The problem of evil in contemporary philosophy is generally regarded as an argument for atheism. The atheist contends that God and evil are incompatible, and given that evil clearly exists, God cannot exist. The problem is generally used to disprove God’s existence by showing an inconsistency between an all-powerful, all-good, and all-knowing God; and the existence of evil. Philosophers over the centuries have tried to show that there is no inconsistency with the existence of God and evil. Leibniz is one of the philosophers who grappled with this problematic. For him, we live in the best of all possible worlds because God chose to create this world, and in trying to solve the problem of evil, his argument provides that the attributes of God such as omniscience, omnipotence and perfection are validly not inconsistent with the presence of evil in the world. The aim of this work therefore, is to focus on the modalities of logic, namely, possibility, necessity, and contingency, the problem of evil and how Leibniz deciphers it, free-will, and objections to Leibniz’s claims. Thus, in seeking to do this, I shall thread the following course: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. A Brief Biography of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz The Notion of the Problem of Evil Background to Leibniz’s Theodicy Leibniz’s Conception of the Problem of Evil Leibniz’s Account, a success or failure? Conclusion

1. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1646, his father being a professor of moral philosophy. Leibniz was a Christian idealist philosopher who was heavily influenced by Benedict Spinoza. He studied both

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