Leibniz's Discourse on Metaphysics: A New Translation and Commentary

by Christopher Johns

Written in 1686, Discourse on Metaphysics is one of the most important and widely published works in the history of philosophy. This translation and commentary by Christopher Johns has much new to offer. Based on the Akademie edition it provides a truly scholarly translation for the first time. It includes a clear and informative commentary on this new translation making it suitable for anyone new to Leibniz, as well as more established scholars and teachers. Johns also offers previously unpublished works related to the Discourse including some letters, On the Freedom of Rational Creatures (1686), excerpts from Theodicy and excerpts from Malebranche's Treatise on Nature and Grace. These letters and texts illuminate important themes found in the Discourse and shed light on the intellectual context of the time and will be of particular interest to scholars and teachers of Leibniz.

360 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[A.Raul N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since no one has reviewed or rated this yet, i might as well write a short comment. Christopher Johns' point by point commentary is well worth the read for those not yet well read in 17th century philosophy (like me). The commentary offers ample and needed context on all the ideas of the Discourse and elaborates on the links between Leibniz and his contemporaries: Arnauld, Malebranche, Spinoza, Descartes, Locke... as well as older thinkers like Thomas de Aquinas or Aristotle.

As for Leibniz himself... his metaphysics is outrageously ridiculous on first read, yet, like all good philosophy, it soon becomes self-evident. Hypothetically necessary reading for those interested in Whitehead or Deleuze.