Leibniz' Moral Philosophy

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Leibniz had already developed the main characteristics of his moral philosophy. His ethics is thus of early origin. Ethics has a very central, not to say central, part in Leibniz's thought. Values are to him a central way of reflecting universal harmony besides theoretical knowledge. Leibniz's moral philosophy stayed relatively unchanged through his life while his other doctrines changed considerably by time. Leibniz sought to systematize moral philosophy, to analyze it to the most simple principles. Leibniz thought that will or our inner desire or desire to do something is central in human action. In Leibniz's doctrine will means active striving to some goal, which follows the subject's conceptions (opinio) of good and evil. This goal is the apparent good to the subject in question. And the apparent good is dependent on knowledge. As we know more, our judgment will refine and we can recognize greater goods. Goodness is the goal of decisions. Good is that which leads to ple!
asure.
According to Leibniz, we get pleasure out of realizing that we do virtuous deeds and at the same time promote universal perfection. That which serves to the perfection of intelligent substances will also contribute to their pleasure. In other words, the deeds that promote more perfection in the world will also produce greater pleasure. Things, which produce good in themselves, will satisfy only the temporary needs while the deeds which will, in time, result to bigger amounts of perfection, will produce more lasting pleasures. In Leibniz's moral theory psychological egoism is reconciled with the possibility of altruism. It is also vital to have knowledge of the good and evil. Therefore we should get as much right knowledge as we can in order to recognize good as we see it. When we are enlightened enough, we are able to see what action brings about the most perfection. For this need Leibniz was interested in logic and reasoning. He dreamed of an universal...