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The present volume of Leibniz's writings, which now takes its place in the "Philosophical Classics" alongside the works of Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, and Immanuel Kant, is made up of three separate treatises: (1) The Discourse on Metaphysics, (2) Leibniz's Correspondence with Arnauld, and (3) The Monadology. Together they form a composite and logical whole, and afford an excellent survey of Leibniz's thought. The first two, the Metaphysics and the Correspondence with Arnauld, have never before been translated into English, while the translation of the Monadology is new. The thanks of the public for this translation are due to Dr. George R. Montgomery, instructor in philosophy in Yale University, and for the suggestion of making the translation to Dr. G. M. Duncan, professor of philosophy in Yale University. The clear and admirable résumé of the history of philosophy in Libniz's time and of his own system from the pen of the late Paul Janet, Member of the French Institute, was added at the suggestion of the editor. Thus with the index, all the necessary material has been furnished in this volume for a comprehension of the thought of one of the most versatile geniuses the world has produced.

"What a marvellously gifted man Leibniz was!" admirably remarks Dr. Duncan. "The king of Prussia truly said of him, 'He represents in himself a whole Academy'; and George I. of England was quite justified in saying, 'I count myself happy in possessing two kingdoms, in one of which I have the honor of reckoning a Leibniz, and in the other a Newton, among my subjects.' A brilliant mathematician, contesting with Newton the honor of discovering the Calculus; a gifted psychologist and epistemologist, equalling and surpassing, in his New Essays, Locke's famous Essay; a profound theologian, writing the most famous book on Theodicy which has ever been printed; a learned historian, producing a history of the House of Brunswick commended by Gibbon himself; a far-sighted statesman and diplomatist, honored at several of the most powerful courts of Europe; a great philosopher, founder of