Maupertuis vs. physico-theologians
Maupertuis vs. physico-theologians

Summary/Abstract: The most popular proof used in the 18th century for the existence of God was the proof from design: the orderliness and beauty of nature pointed to the existence of the supernatural designer. Physico-theologians who used this proof not infrequently made details of their investigations a subject of derision. Maupertuis proposed his proof he considered superior to other proofs to avoid pitfalls of the proof by design, a proof based on his principle of least action. The article discusses the theological relevance of this principle and his views on the attributes of God and on eschatology as related to his proof of the existence of God.

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