ACP: Gottfried, my friend, why is this the best of all possible worlds?
GL: Because G*d is good and because G*d is omnipotent and because G*d chose exactly this world out of all possible worlds. So this world must be good—in fact, it must be the best of all possible worlds.
ACP: Gottfried, dear, what if I can think of a better world?
GL: You cannot: You must be mistaken, by necessity mistaken, when you think you can think such a thing.
ACP: But what if I really can? Must then not, by similar necessity, one of your premises be wrong?
GL: But you cannot, my friend – this is the best of all possible worlds, I just showed it to you, with irrevocable logic.
ACP: What of a world with one more righteous person in it, one true worshiper? Maybe one former heathen, suddenly convinced of his errors by your flawless calculation?
GL: Aw shucks, you demon reasoner. I cannot grant you that.
ACP: Because a world with one more more righteous person in it, one more believing soul, would be different from ours, and quite arguably better, and thus negate the existence of the very G*d this righteous person would now claim to believe in?
GL: For sure, my dear friend ACP, you are not that righteous fellow.
[Both off stage left, to merry laughter.]
GL: Because G*d is good and because G*d is omnipotent and because G*d chose exactly this world out of all possible worlds. So this world must be good—in fact, it must be the best of all possible worlds.
ACP: Gottfried, dear, what if I can think of a better world?
GL: You cannot: You must be mistaken, by necessity mistaken, when you think you can think such a thing.
ACP: But what if I really can? Must then not, by similar necessity, one of your premises be wrong?
GL: But you cannot, my friend – this is the best of all possible worlds, I just showed it to you, with irrevocable logic.
ACP: What of a world with one more righteous person in it, one true worshiper? Maybe one former heathen, suddenly convinced of his errors by your flawless calculation?
GL: Aw shucks, you demon reasoner. I cannot grant you that.
ACP: Because a world with one more more righteous person in it, one more believing soul, would be different from ours, and quite arguably better, and thus negate the existence of the very G*d this righteous person would now claim to believe in?
GL: For sure, my dear friend ACP, you are not that righteous fellow.
[Both off stage left, to merry laughter.]
