Principia quaedam metaphysicae Wolfianae

In 1738 the Lutheran theologian Johann Jakob Köthen wrote a compendium of the metaphysical principles in Wolff’s philosophy, which he published in a single volume with the Latin translation of Leibniz’s Monadology ‘propter argumenti similitudinem’ – because of the similarity of the argument. As an appendix he added two ‘Epistolae’ in defence and support of Wolff’s philosophy. Both emphasise its excellence and utility; the first letter is in Latin, the second in Italian, each using different arguments. Köthen seeks to provide a shorter and simpler presentation of the metaphysical principles contained in Wolff’s comprehensive ‘Latin Ontology’. And his stated aim is to demonstrate the compatibility of Leibniz’s and Wolff’s philosophy with both natural low and revealed theology. Consequently, that this philosophy can not only be espoused by Lutherans without misgivings, but can even be of great assistance in the defence of religion against frequently-advanced objections and arguments.