LEIBNIZ ON THE THEODICY-PROBLEM.

PFAFFIO, CHRISTOPH MATTHAEO. [CHRISTOPH MATTHÄUS PFAFF].

Fragmentum Epistolae.

Leipzig, Grosse & Gleditsch, 1728. 4to. In: " Acta Eruditorum Anno MDCCXXVIII". The entire volume offered in contemporary full vellum. Hand written title on spine. A yellow label pasted on to top of spine. Two small stamps to title-page and free front end-paper. Library label to pasted down front free end-paper. As usual with various browning to leaves and plates. Pp. 125-27. [Entire volume: (2), 562, (32), + six engraved plates, thereby lacking one].

First printing of German theolog Christoph Matthäus Pfaff's publication of a Leibniz letter who's intention was to prove that Leibniz regarded the Theodicy-problem as a philosophical mind-game (lusus philosophi) without any substantial content.

Shortly after Leibniz's death, rumors and gossip about his religious insincerity were spread through France and Germany by the clergyman Christian Matthaeus Pfaff.
He even claimed to be in possession of a letter from Leibniz in which the latter had confessed this [that it was a game of reconciling a deterministic, optimistic system with revealed religion, without real commitment or success in either] to him. Pfaff stirred up high expectations with his repeated announcement that he was on the verge of publishing the letter, but he always found some excuse not to though. (JOLLEY, The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz, P. 468)
An excerpt of the letter was eventually published, which, as Pfaff states, questions Leibniz view on the Theodicy.

The Theodicy, a term coined by Leibniz in his book "Essais de Théodicée sur la bonté de Dieu, la liberté de l'homme et l'origine du mal" which appeared in 1710 with numerous editions thereafter, was widely read, but Leibniz did not regard the book as a very full or adequate expression of his thoughts, and he seemed to have hoped that someone else would assume the burden of collecting his scattered writings after his death so as to make him better understood.

Order-nr.: 45198