Leibniz's fundamental question on the basis of the transcendental ideal of the Critique of Pure Reason

Abstract

We seek to present the importance of Leibniz's theses on Kant's philosophy by examining how the two philosophers reflect on the demonstration of God's existence. To do so, we return in general lines to the Leibnizian arguments of his Principles of Nature and Grace (1714) to demonstrate the existence of God. Next, we recall how a similar argument can be found in pre-critical Kantian texts such as the Nova Dilucidatio (1755) and The Only Possible Argument for a Demonstration of the Existence of God (1762). Subsequently, we present (also in broad outline) some of the main reasons listed by the Critique of Pure Reason (1781) that seem to have convinced Kant to abandon the previous certainty about the effective validity of the pre-Critical argumentation ("Leibnizian" in some way). Finally, we note the permanence of this argument in the section of the Critique of Pure Reason – dedicated to the exposition of the genesis of the so-called transcendental ideal of pure reason.