  It is worth noting that, for Leibniz, the significance of the  principle of continuity runs deeper than providing yet another reason for thinking that the Cartesian laws of motion are   flawed.[24]  For him the principle of continuity is a contingent principle of  order grounded not in brute necessity, but in divine benevolence  – a discontinuous world would not be impossible, but merely  sub-optimal. As such, Leibniz takes it to yield further support for  the metaphysical and methodological points noted above in connection  with his “proof” of the conservation of vis  viva. Metaphysically, Leibniz takes the principle of continuity  to support the claim that the true laws of motion are contingent  since they follow not from God’s immutable nature or eternal truths,  but rather from God’s wisdom and benevolence. Methodologically, he  takes it to support once again his view that the most promising route to the discovery of nature’s secrets is neither blind empiricism, nor deductive rationalism, but a combination of observation, pure reason, and reflection on the constraints imposed by considerations of the  best.