Leibniz, Molyneux e as causas finais: uma ocasião de disputa perdida

Abstract

In this paper, we propose to move through some steps of the debate about the relevance of final causes in physical investigations, which led Leibniz to compare his philosophy, in particular, with Cartesianism and, more generally, with a strictly mechanistic view of nature. We will follow the signs of this debate in work of Leibniz, signs that could be found in search of references to Molyneux, one of the first to receive and publicize Leibniz's perspective, and also one of the few interlocutors with whom a cordial dialogue was established. We will try to show that, however, such no polemic exchange is the result of a fundamental misunderstanding between the two intellectuals.