Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway

Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway and Killultagh (14 December 1631–1679) was an English philosopher whose work, in the tradition of the Cambridge Platonists, was an influence on Leibniz.

The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy

Conway's only work was originally written (in English) between 1671 and 1675, and it was first published posthumously in 1690 in a Latin translation as Principia philosophiae antiquissimae et recentissimae de Deo, Christo et Creatura id est de materia et spiritu in genere. When an English edition was proposed, Conway's original manuscript had been lost, so that the new edition had to be based on the Latin translation; it was published in 1692 under the title The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy.

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In this book, Conway was concerned to offer a critique of the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, René Descartes, and Baruch Spinoza, as well as to develop a theodicy – a reconciliation of the evil nature of the world, and especially of widespread suffering – with the existence of an omnipotent, omnniscient, benevolent creator. In some ways her work was anachronistic; all three of the philosophers whose work she criticised had been concerned to separate theology and philosophy, but for Conway theological and philosophical thinking was inextricably entwined.

Related Topics:
Thomas Hobbes - René Descartes - Baruch Spinoza - Theodicy - Omnipotent - Omnniscient

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Despite this she was widely admired, most significantly perhaps by Gottfried Leibniz, who acknowledged her work in his correspondence, and to whom she might have given the term "monad".

Related Topics:
Gottfried Leibniz - Monad

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