PRINCIPLES OF NATURE AND GRACE 417 



10. It follows from the supreme perfection of God 

 that in producing the universe He has chosen the best 

 possible plan, in which there is the greatest variety 

 along with the greatest order ; ground, place, time being 

 as well arranged as possible 45 ; the greatest effect pro- 

 duced by the simplest ways ; the most power, know- 

 ledge, happiness and goodness in created things that the 

 universe allowed 46 . For as all possible things in the 

 understanding of God claim existence in proportion to 

 their perfections, the result of all these claims must be 

 the most perfect actual world that is possible. And 

 apart from this it would not be possible to give a reason 

 why things have gone thus rather than otherwise 4T . 



IT. The supreme wisdom of God led Him to choose 

 specially the laws of motion which are most fitting and 

 which are most in conformity with abstract or meta- 

 physical reasons. There is conserved the same quantity 

 of total and absolute force, or of activity [action], also 

 the same quantity of relative force or of reaction, and 

 finally the same quantity of force of direction 48 . Further, 



essential, inalienable imperfection ; otherwise it would be indis- 

 tinguishable from God. And God cannot change the essence of 

 any Monad, as it is in the 'region of ideas,' which is His under- 

 standing. He can merely create and support, or withhold His 

 creation and preservation. 



45 Cf. Ultimate Origination of Things, pp. 340 sqq. 



46 Cf. Monadology, 55-58. * 7 Cf. Monadology, 53 and 54. 



48 Every system or aggregate of bodies has a total absolute force, 

 i. e. a total force belonging to the system as a completely indepen- 

 dent system a total force calculated on the supposition that there 

 are no other total forces in relation to it, which might increase or 

 diminish it. The whole matter of the universe is such a system, 

 and consequently its total absolute force remains always the 

 same. But total absolute force is always made up of two partial 

 forces, i. e. forces which belong to the parts of the aggregate or 

 system. These partial forces are (i) 'relative force* or 'force of 

 reaction,' which is the force involved in the mutual action and 

 reaction of the bodies constituting the system or aggregate, i. e. its 

 internal action, and (2) ' force of direction,' which is the force 

 involved in the external action of the system. Cf. Introduction, 

 Part iii. pp. 89 sqq. See also Explanation of the New System, note 30. 



E 6 



