Leibniz, Classical Theism, and the Problem of Evil: Why Classical Theism Must Affirm That Our World is the Best of All Possible Worlds

This volume offers a defense of Leibniz’s theodicy and his infamous claim that our world is the best of all possible worlds. It considers Leibniz’s rationale for “optimism,” examines its roots in ancient and medieval thought, and forwards a novel rereading of Leibniz’s theory of freedom in light of this background, all of which highlights the very real challenges of evading optimism from within the framework of classical theism.

Gottfried Leibniz is known for his “theodicy,” or defense of Go...