ABSTRACT
The greatest thinker of the early phase of German Enlightenment was G. W. Leibniz. Leibniz’ fame, however, reposed mainly on his work as a philosopher and a scholar in many fields. Leibniz’ life coincided with that of Louis XIV, and he witnessed all his wars. When the King prepared his attack upon Holland, Leibniz tried to avert him from it by directing his ambition to another enterprise which was rightful and much more profitable, namely the conquest of Egypt and other parts of the Turkish Empire. The German Empire was held by Leibniz in high esteem. Leibniz pointed out the particular merits of the German tongue, which had a rich vocabulary in the scientific and economic matters first developed by Germans. An aim which Leibniz embraced with the greatest fervour was the re-union of the Churches. Leibniz’ position in Berlin was also adversely affected by changes in the attitude of the Hanoverian government.
