Summary. Leibniz?s vectorial model of rational decision-making and bounded rationality

Leibniz developed a new model for rational decision-making which is suited to complicated decisions, where goods do not rule each other out, but compete with each other. In such cases the delibera-tor has to consider all of the goods and pick the ones that contrib-ute most to the desired goal which in Leibniz's system is ultimately the advancement of universal perfection. The inclinations to par -ticular goods can be seen as vectors leading to different directions much like forces in Leibniz's dynamics. The vectorial model of ra-tional decision-making is related to Leibniz's work with metaphys-ical physics and the calculus of variations and is a heuristic tool which helps in finding reasonable combinations - in ideal cases optimums - between competing goods. By applying the model, the decision-maker can map and compare outcomes of combinations of goods in question and practice a kind of pseudo-mechanical arith-metic of reasons. A central feature of the model is the possibility to employ geometrical figures to help the conceptualization. In this paper I present the vectorial model, examine its applications in practical cases from political theory, jurisprudence and ethics Leib-niz presented, and compare the model to recent theories of acting under uncertainty, such as bounded rationality and optimizing un-der constraints.