The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz (Bloomsbury Companions)

The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz presents a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the life, thought and work of one of the great polymaths of the modern world, G.W. Leibniz and examines the new directions in this field. Beginning chapters first seek to understand Leibniz by establishing the philosophies of and Leibnizs reactions to his most important contemporary philosophers from Descartes to Malebranche. While addressing current philosophical research in Leibniz such as his metaphysics, logic and theory of free will, a leading team of experts in the field show that Leibnizs work was also much wider in scope and cover a number of Leibnizs concerns outside of philosophy too including mathematics, physics and the life sciences. The Companion concludes by offering analysis into how Leibniz has subsequently been understood and his impact on further study, particularly his successor Immanuel Kant. Together with an extended biographical sketches and an up-to-date and fully comprehensive bibliography, The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz is an extremely valuable study tool for students and scholars interested in Leibniz and the era in which he wrote. The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz presents a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the life, thought and work of one of the great polymaths of the modern world, G.W. Leibniz. This guide enriches the reader's understanding of Leibniz by establishing the philosophies of, and Leibniz's reactions to, his most important philosophical contemporaries from Descartes to Malebranche. While addressing current philosophical research in Leibniz studies such as his metaphysics, logic and theory of free will, a leading team of experts in the field demonstrate that Leibniz's work was wider in scope. Examining new directions in this field they cover a number of Leibniz's concerns outside of philosophy including mathematics, physics, and the life sciences. The Companion concludes by offering analysis of Leibniz's legacy; his impact on further study, particularly on his successor Immanuel Kant, and how he has subsequently been understood. Together with extended biographical sketches and an up-to-date and fully comprehensive bibliography, The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz is an extremely valuable study tool for students and scholars interested in Leibniz and the era in which he wrote. Contents 6 List of Contributors 8 PART I: LEIBNIZ’S TIMES AND PHILOSOPHICAL PRECURSORS 10 1. INTRODUCTION: LEIBNIZ’S LIFE AND WORKS • BRANDON C.LOOK 12 2. DESCARTES AND LEIBNIZ • PAULINE PHEMISTER 25 3. LEIBNIZ AND HOBBES • PHILIP BEELEY 41 4. LEIBNIZ’S FASCINATION WITH SPINOZA • URSULA GOLDENBAUM 60 5. MALEBRANCHE AND LEIBNIZ • SEAN GREENBERG 77 PART II: LEIBNIZ’S PHILOSOPHY 96 6. LEIBNIZ’S METAPHYSICS: THE PATH TO MONADOLOGY • BRANDON C. LOOK 98 7. LOGICAL THEORY IN LEIBNIZ • SAMUEL LEVEY 119 8. LEIBNIZ’S THEORY OF COGNITION • MARTHA BOLTON 145 9. LEIBNIZ’S THEORY OF MODALITY • OHAD NACHTOMY 168 10. LEIBNIZ’S THEORY OF CAUSATION • BRANDON C. LOOK 183 11. LEIBNIZ’S PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY • MARTIN LIN 201 12. LEIBNIZ ON FREE WILL • JACK DAVIDSON 217 13. LEIBNIZ’S MORAL PHILOSOPHY • GREGORY BROWN 232 14. LEIBNIZ’S CONTRIBUTION TO NATURAL PHILOSOPHY • FRANÇOIS DUCHESNEAU 248 15. LEIBNIZ AND THE LIFE SCIENCES • JUSTIN E. H. SMITH 268 16. LEIBNIZIAN MATHEMATICS • DOUGLAS M. JESSEPH 284 PART III: THE AFTERMATH 296 17. KANT, THE LEIBNIZIANS AND LEIBNIZ • ANJA JAUERNIG 298 Bibliography 319 Index of Names 340 __The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz____The Bloomsbury Companion to Leibniz__