Abstract

A detailed and comprehensive study of the impact of Leibnizian ideas upon French opinion before 1760. Leibniz was read, during this period, primarily as a speculative metaphysician and rationalistic theologian. Part I deals with the Leibnizian critique of Cartesianism, Part II with the adventures of the Leibnizian theodicy--not only as Leibniz expounded it but also as interpreted by Pope and by Wolff--and Part III presents an extended account of the reactions to Leibnizianism by Voltaire. --L. H. E.