Divine mathematics: Leibniz's combinatorial theory of compossibility

IF 1.4 2区哲学 Q1 HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Pub Date : 2024-06-19 DOI:10.1016/j.shpsa.2024.05.002

Jun Young Kim

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Leibniz's famous proposition that God has created the best of all possible worlds holds a significant place in his philosophical system. However, the precise manner in which God determines which world is the best remains somewhat ambiguous. Leibniz suggests that a form of "Divine mathematics" is employed to construct and evaluate possible worlds. In this paper, I uncover the underlying mechanics of Divine mathematics by formally reconstructing it. I argue that Divine mathematics is a one-player combinatorial game, in which God's goal is to find the best combination among many possibilities. Drawing on the combinatorial theory, I provide new solutions to some puzzles of compossibility.

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神圣的数学莱布尼兹的可合性组合理论

莱布尼茨的著名命题是 "上帝创造了所有可能世界中最好的世界"，这一命题在他的哲学体系中占有重要地位。然而，上帝决定哪个世界是最好的具体方式仍然有些含糊不清。莱布尼茨认为，上帝运用了一种 "神的数学 "来构建和评估可能的世界。在本文中，我通过正式重构神的数学，揭示了神的数学的基本机制。我认为，神数学是一种单人组合游戏，上帝的目标是在众多可能性中找到最佳组合。借鉴组合理论，我为一些可能性难题提供了新的解决方案。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 管理科学-科学史与科学哲学

CiteScore

2.50

自引率

10.00%

发文量

166

审稿时长

6.6 weeks

期刊介绍： Studies in History and Philosophy of Science is devoted to the integrated study of the history, philosophy and sociology of the sciences. The editors encourage contributions both in the long-established areas of the history of the sciences and the philosophy of the sciences and in the topical areas of historiography of the sciences, the sciences in relation to gender, culture and society and the sciences in relation to arts. The Journal is international in scope and content and publishes papers from a wide range of countries and cultural traditions.