Frugal nature: on the principle of optimality in Leibniz's physics: Jeffrey K. McDonough: A miracle creed: the principle of optimality in Leibniz's physics and philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022, 250 pp, $74.00 HB.

"A Miracle Creed: The Principle of Optimality in Leibniz's Physics and Philosophy" by Jeffrey K. McDonough explores the connection between Leibniz's physics and philosophy, focusing on the Principle of Optimality. The book discusses Leibniz's application of this principle to various aspects of nature, such as the laws of reflection and refraction, rigid body mechanics, and the conservation of vis viva. McDonough argues that Leibniz's teleological explanations challenge the prevailing view that early modern physics rejected final causes. While the book raises important questions about Leibniz's metaphysical writings and the role of God in his philosophy, it provides a stimulating and innovative account of Leibniz's conceptions of nature and science. [Extracted from the article]