Preface.

matters in the order in which they can be discovered one from another, step by step. Whoever pays attention to this will be able to show the reason reason: German "Grund." In Wolff's philosophy, the principle of sufficient reason dictates that everything must have an explanation for why it is so and not otherwise. for every article article: German "Articul." This refers to the numbered points or sections of the argument., why it follows the other, and will find order in that which might otherwise seem disorderly to him. However, just as this book has been written in a constant connection connection: German "Verknüpfung." This refers to the logical synthesis where each proposition is bound to the next in a sequence of proofs. of one truth with another, so must it also be read in an undisturbed order from beginning to end. And because one will find it proven herein that nature makes no leaps original: "daß die Natur keinen Sprung thut." This is a translation of the famous Latin axiom Natura non facit saltus. Wolff applies this principle of physical continuity to his logic, suggesting that skipping a step in the argument is as impossible as a gap in the natural world., it will be especially necessary that one read this book gradually with proper attention and reflection. Whoever does this will have the pleasure pleasure: German "Vergnügen." In the 18th century, intellectual "pleasure" was considered the highest form of satisfaction, derived from the clarity of understanding complex systems. of attaining a clear—