《神义论》简介:

在一切时代,人们看到许许多多人将奉神祇(devotion)理解为种种礼仪形式,而真正的虔诚,即领悟和美德从来不是大多数人的传承和质素。对此,人们不可感到惊奇,其实这太符合人性的弱点了;我们接受外在者给予我们的印象,而内在者却要求进行一场只有少数人才有力为之的讨论。真正的虔诚在于信念和实际行动,与此相应,敬奉神祇的礼仪形式也具有双重性质,此一些人目的在于仪式性行为,彼一些人却着眼于信条。仪式近似善行,信条犹如真理的影子,或多或少在接近着纯然的领悟。所有这些礼仪形式都是值得称赞的,如果它们的发明者创造它们是为了将所摹仿者真正包含于内和表达于外的话,如果宗教仪式、教会礼节、宗教团体规定始终仿佛是为神的律法筑成的一道篱笆以使我们远离恶行、习惯于善者和熟悉美德的话。……

神义论》全书包括前言、绪论和正文三部分。在前言中,莱布尼茨解释了他写作《神义论》的原因和目的并描绘了全书的轮廓。正文由三部分构成:上编、中编和下编。

上编的中心内容是对一切世界中最好可能的世界的命题的论证,并在此论证的基础上辩明上帝之慈善和正义。中编论证了信仰与理性、自由与上帝的预先规定的一致。下编的论证主题是道德的恶与形体的恶,即罪与罪过。

《神义论》摘录:

It is clear that Jesus Christ, completing what Moses had begun, wished that the Divinity should be the object not only of our fear and veneration but also of our love and devotion....Love is that mental state which makes us take pleasure in the perfections of the object of our love, and there is nothing more perfect than God, nor any greater delight than in him. To love him it suffices to contemplate his perfections, a thing easy indeed, because we find the ideas of these within ourselves....It follows manifestly that true piety and even true felicity consist in the love of God, but a love so enlightened that its fervour is attended by insight. This kind of love begets that pleasure in good actions which gives relief to virtue, and, relating all to God as to the centre, transports the huma...

《神义论》目录:

译者前言
神义论
前言
绪论:论信仰与理性的一致
上编(1至106)
中编(107至240)
下编(241至417)
附录选
附录一:争论问题的形式论证
附录四:为上帝的事业辩护
单子论
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