Rational Thoughts on God, the World, and the Soul of Man

-ly and thorough knowledge knowledge: German "Erkäntnis." In Wolff’s philosophy, this refers to the cognitive grasp of truth reached through clear and distinct ideas. of the most important truths, and will especially find joy in being able to thoroughly refute the highly harmful and dangerous errors of those who imagine themselves to be stronger in intellect intellect: German "Verstand." The faculty of the soul by which it clearly perceives the connections between truths. than others and consider themselves invincible. He will also be able to answer with emphasis the objections against natural and revealed religion Natural religion refers to truths about God and morality discovered through reason alone; revealed religion refers to truths communicated through divine scripture.. I had indeed initially intended to leave the question of the communion communion: German "Gemeinschafft." This refers to the philosophical problem of interactionism—how an immaterial soul can influence a material body and vice-versa. of the body with the soul, and the soul with the body, entirely undecided; however, since I was led quite naturally to the pre-established harmony original: "vorher bestimmete Harmonie." This refers to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s theory (harmonie préétablie) that the soul and body do not interact directly but were synchronized by God from the beginning of creation. of Mr. von Leibniz by the foundations laid in the second chapter, contrary to my expectations, I was—