Blackwell Reference Online

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M etaphysics, philosophy of religion Leibniz claimed that because God is the most perfect being, the world he chose to create must be the most perfect and best among all possible worlds. To choose to create a lesser world would have been a sign of imperfection in God. Furthermore, since God, as an omnipotent and omniscient being, not only intends to create a possible world , but also knows what is the best and has the capacity to actualize it, our world must actually be the best. Accordingly, it is a logical consequence of orthodox theism that our world is the best possible world. This idea is satirized by Voltaire in Candide through his protagonist's claim that “everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” “This supreme wisdom, united to a goodness that is no less infinite, cannot but have chosen the best … There would be something to correct in the actions of God if it were possible to do better … So it may be said that if this were not the best of all possible worlds, God would not have created any.” Leibniz, Theodicy ... log in or subscribe to read full text