Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of Unchanging

Truth, the Colston Center.

I'm John Stone Street.

Well today, November 14th marks the 306th anniversary of the death of Gottfried von Liebnitz, a German

polymath, committed Lutheran, and one of the most wide-ranging intellectuals in all

of history.

Leibnitz was a child prodigy at 13.

He composed 300 hexometers of Latin verse and one morning for an event at school.

In 1661, at 14, he enrolled in the University of Leibzig, completing a bachelor's and

master's degree by age 17.

The following year, he earned a bachelor of law degree and a doctorate of philosophy

the year after that.

When that same year, the university turned him down for a doctrine in law, likely because

of his youth, he left for the University of Altdorf, presented his dissertation there,

and was granted a license to practice law.

All of this, before he turned 20, well, despite a busy, legal and diplomatic career, Leibnitz

remained active and scholarly pursuits, like many intellectuals of his time.

He was engaged with enlightenment thought and an active and variety of intellectual

fields.

As a thinker, he stands out not only for grasping the depths of the contemporary philosophy

of his day, but also for contributing to the contemporary philosophy of his day, all

while remaining dependent on the authority of Scripture and the Church.

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