The best of possible worlds

[robinturner]

I've just finished reading a book about Leibniz and Spinoza, which I shall probably comment on in more detail later. One of Leibniz's ideas is that God sets up a kind of database of possible worlds, and then chooses the best one.

This idea normally strikes me as the kind of thing that prompted a student to ask "Did Leibniz eat a lot of rye bread?" but occasionally I think "Yes, this is the best of all possible worlds." I've just been to a party at the Education Department (because I teach some of their MA students) and in the process of getting as pissed as a newt have impressed various people with my computing skills, done some serious "networking" and got a vague promise that as a result of my script-fu, my teaching hours will be reduced. And they gave me a half-full bottle of wine to take back to the office. Mmm, best of all possible worlds.

Comments

[vret.livejournal.com]

Especially when you think what might have happened. They could have sent you back with a half-empty bottle.

[ankh156.livejournal.com]

Beat me to it ! lol

[eve-prime.livejournal.com]

Was it The Courtier and the Heretic? I've read that.

[solri.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the one. Good philosophical gossip in the spirit of Wittgenstein's Poker and The Metaphysical Club.

[eve-prime.livejournal.com]

I haven't read The Metaphysical Club, but Wittgenstein's Poker was very entertaining.

[eve-prime.livejournal.com]

Oh, and now I see that I'd definitely like to read it. I want to know more about Peirce.

I haven't read the one about Rousseau and Hume, either.

[solri.livejournal.com]

There's one about Rousseau and Hume? w00t!!!

[eve-prime.livejournal.com]

Rousseau's Dog, the newer one by the guys who wrote Wittgenstein's Poker. Amazon.com info. Since I'm increasingly interested in Hume, I should get to this one at some point too.