PREFACE

principles of cosmology original: "cipia cosmologica" (completing "principia" from the previous page) have no less use in demonstrating the divine attributes. For since we admit that God is the author of the universe in order to avoid the absurdity of pure chance in the existence of the world, we must conceive of Him in such a way that we find in His attributes a sufficient reason ratio sufficiens A core principle in Wolff’s philosophy: the idea that nothing exists or happens without a reason why it is so and not otherwise. why the world is exactly as the principles of cosmology describe it. Therefore, to achieve certain knowledge of God, we are bound to build it upon cosmological principles. For the sake of achieving this, we recognized the necessity of General Cosmology and thus do not hesitate to introduce it into philosophy.

It was necessary to place this study before Natural Theology—which everyone knows is a part of Metaphysics—since Theology takes its principles of demonstration from Cosmology. Likewise, Cosmology had to follow immediately after Ontology The study of the nature of being and existence in its most general form., because it draws its principles of demonstration from that alone. Just as in Ontology we teach those things which belong to "being" viewed in general, so in General Cosmology those abstract predicates of being are applied to the "world" in general. Thus, cosmological notions are no less abstract than ontological ones, and for this reason, Transcendental Cosmology original: "Cosmologia transcendentalis" is allotted a very fitting place in Metaphysics.

In Physics, General Cosmology provides manifold uses. It safeguards against chimerical notions Fanciful or impossible ideas that have no basis in reality., which commonly give rise to inextricable difficulties. It supplies guiding original: "dire-[ctrices]" notions...