ABSTRACT
A discussion of three central questions: (i) to what extent is the contemporary notion of metaphysical explanation continuous with the notion of sufficient reason endorsed by Spinoza, Leibniz, and other rationalists? (ii) to what extent can the Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) avoid the formidable traditional objections levelled against it if it is formulated in terms of metaphysical explanation? And (iii) how might historical discussion of the PSR shed light on the contemporary notions of ground and metaphysical explanation?
