Discourse on Metaphysics and Other Essays (Hackett Classics)

This is one of the best books concerning metaphysics that I have read thus far. It provides a good framework to make your own conclusions. It refutes popular contemporary myths in a systematic manner. Thorough without being dragged out. Informative footnotes. Overall amazing read. With this said, I must warn you of two things if you wish to purchase this book. 1) The printing is not always the best. It is not bad, but some pages the text looks like it is in bold for no reason. Not enough to prohibit reading, just annoying. 2) G.W. Leibniz’s prose can be difficult to understand at times. There are run-on sentences and sometimes the word choice is abnormal. For me this did not bar me from understanding, however there were certain paragraphs I had to read twice. Overall I would reccomend this book. If you are on the fence about buying, I promise you won’t regret it.

Leibniz works his brilliance here,The LCA and it's Principle of Sufficient Reason has gained some momentum here in the 21st century as Alexander Pruss has revived the argument. It is important to have this in one's library as Leibniz speaks heavily on what he refers to as monads.In his Preface to the New Essays section of this book you will see that Leibniz makes a critique on John Locke's "Essay Concerning Human Understanding". This piece alone is worth the price of the book.Leibniz mentions Descartes quite often in this piece, while both of them were rationalists they had their disagreements on God's perfection.This quote comes to mind on pg 74."Thus God alone (or the necessary being) has this privilege, that he must exist if he is possible. And since nothing can prevent the possibility of what is without limits, without negation, and consequently without contradiction, this by itself is sufficient for us to know the exist of God a priori. We have also proved this by the reality of the eternal truths. But we have also just proved it a posteriori since there are contingent beings, which can only have their final or sufficient reason in the necessary being, a being that has the reason of its existence in itself."This is of my favorite quotes from any philosopher in the history of the Western world, in which I agree with completely.A must read!!

Excellent short introduction to Leibniz' philosophy. Found his Theodicy difficult to wade through, but the short essay on Monadology is a great summary.

Good book - great delivery

Can't wait to read it. It should help me put Spinoza's works in a better perspective too.

Book was in great shape

Good, Leibniz is brilliant.

Item was shoved into the box and arrived very damaged

stop annoying me - I ordered it and got what I want. What more do you need to know?