Leibniz and Law: An Overview of the Legal Dimension of Leibnitz’s Oeuvre and its Current Critical Reception

Abstract

The paper expounds the legal relevance of Leibniz’ work through the lens of Leibniz’ contemporary reception. The bulk of the paper focuses on early legal work by Leibniz and some popular later texts like Monadology or Discourse from the perspective of legal issues.

The first part of the paper introduces Leibniz as a student of law and as a young lawyer. Then it compares three philosophers’ readings of Leibniz to find out if/how they considered his legal background. Next it portrays Leibniz as a classic advocate of natural law. This view refutes the possibility of reading his thinking as political theology. Finally, contemporary readings of Leibniz are surveyed that focus on the relevance of his early legal writing.