In the spring of 1672, German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz arrived in Paris, home of France's two greatest
philosopher-theologians of the period, Antoine Arnauld and Nicolas de
Malebranche. The meeting of these three men represents a profoundly
important moment in the history of philosophical and religious thought.
In The Best of All Possible Worlds, Steven Nadler tells the story of a
clash between radically divergent worldviews. At its heart are the
dramatic--and often turbulent--relationships between these brilliant and
resolute individuals. Despite their wildly different views and
personalities, the three philosophers shared a single, passionate
concern: resolving the problem of evil. Why is it that, in a world
created by an all-powerful, all-wise, and infinitely just God, there is
sin and suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people, and good
things to bad people?
The Best of All Possible Worlds brings to life a debate that obsessed
its participants, captivated European intellectuals, and continues to
inform our ways of thinking about God, morality, and the world.