Racjonalistyczne zasady filozofii politycznej G.W. Leibniza

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to present and describe the rationalistic principles of Leibniz’s political philosophy. The description of these principles allows one to systematize the theory of the German thinker and to explain its essential character as a rationalist interpretation of political reality. For this purpose various writings of the philosopher, mostly those untranslated into Polish, are exploited. An analysis of these sources in relation to Leibniz’s philosophical system as a whole is the main tool of explication of the discussed issues. The author distinguishes five basic principles of Leibniz’s political theory. The superior one among them is the principle of reason (principium rationis) which is at the core of rationalistic perception of political reality. The articulation of this principle is included in the phrase “the empire of reason” (l’Empire de la raison), which could be considered as representative for the philosopher’s theory and the demand of rational thinking and acting presented in it. From the superior principle of reason stem the other more detailed principles: principle of perfection and order of universum, primacy of natural law, justice as caritas sapientis and the sovereign as imago Dei. All of these principles, as Leibniz’s entire political theory, are considered in the broad context of his philosophical system with particular reference to metaphysics. The close link between politics and metaphysics is in fact, beside firm rooting in philosophical tradition and Roman law, a characteristic feature of Leibniz’s thought and is distinctive on the historical background of the Modern age.