General Cosmology

And this is the most abundant fruit of general Cosmology, for the sake of which it deserves to be cultivated, even if it produced no other. Yet it will be clear in its own time and place that this is not the only benefit, but that many others can be gathered from it—even in defending religion, both natural and revealed, against the doubts of those who waver and the hasty objections of profane men. Furthermore, from the present proposition and its demonstration, it is clear which method and which principles we use in demonstrating the existence of God, and that our method is sufficient for determining the divine attributes so that we may obtain distinct notions of them. And so, finally, Natural Theology The study of God based on reason and the observation of nature, rather than on divine revelation or scripture alone.—just as the Apostle teaches in Romans 1:20 Wolff refers to the biblical passage: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities... have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."—ascends from the contemplation of the visible world to God, its invisible Author, without whom it cannot be conceived. By gathering both [His] existence and attributes by this same argument, a harmonious system is produced. For the honor of God, I am forced to confess that in being greatly concerned with passing down the knowledge of God through a scientific method, I have found no other way to reach the goal than the one shown by the present proposition; nor have I found a philosopher who has properly followed this path, though those who have attempted to apply a demonstrative method to natural theology, especially in our times, should not be deprived of their praise. I mention these things so that those who take to heart the solid knowledge of God—which will be of great use in our times—may make themselves familiar with general Cosmology and the ontological principles Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being and existence. assumed within it, while we are occupied with publishing our works on Psychology and Natural Theology. The usefulness of a solid knowledge of the Divine will shine forth from the other parts of philosophy, and there is no need to commend it further here.

The limits of Cosmology.

In general Cosmology, it must be explained how the world arises from simple substances original: "substantiis simplicibus" – In Wolff’s philosophy, these are the indivisible, non-extended building blocks of reality, similar to Leibniz’s "monads.". For in general Cosmology, the principles concerning being in general and composite being must be applied to the world or the universe (§. 2.). Therefore, since the first thing conceivable about a being is its intrinsic possibility (§. 144. 153. Ontology), and since the world as a composite being cannot exist without simple things (§. 686. Ontology), it must be shown in general Cosmology how a certain universe arises from simple substances.

It is thus clear how far we must proceed in general Cosmology, and that within it, the true elements of material things must be determined,