Early Modern Philosophy

For anyone in search of the philosophers who influenced one of the richest moments in Western intellectual history, this inclusive reader is the place to start. showcases an unrivalled range of thinkers. Through them, you are introduced to a selection of their texts that return important philosophical ideas and debates to our understanding of modern philosophy. Addressing a one-sided view of intellectual history that has persisted for centuries, this reader goes beyond the usual focus on rationalism and empiricism with readings organised into three parts: Dualistic theories of human nature as the union of a mind and a body Debates concerning social relations and education The nature of reality and the way in which the mind reveals or constructs our understanding of the world.The thematic approach puts women philosophers and understudied figures in direct conversation with canonical thinkers. Chapters on dualism unite Descartes with Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia, Anne Conway with Leibniz and Margaret Cavendish with Thomas Hobbes. The nature of love connects John Norris, Mary Astell and Damaris Masham and the role of sympathy reveals the differing approaches of Sophie de Grouchy and David Hume. Extracts from primary sources are accompanied by biographical detail, questions for reflection, further reading and summaries that place philosophers in their historical contexts.>

Préface
A selection of primary texts illustrating the diversity of philosophical views during the early modern period.

Auteur

John Grey is Teaching Professor in Philosophy at Michigan State University, USA.

Jonathan Head is Lecturer in Philosophy at Keele University, UK.

Contenu

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I Understanding Human Nature

1 Early Modern Dualism: René Descartes, Henry More, and Anton Wilhelm Amo
2 The Mind-Body Problem: René Descartes and Elisabeth of Bohemia
3 Idealist Responses: Anne Conway and Gottfried Leibniz
4 Materialist Responses: Thomas Hobbes and Margaret Cavendish

Part II Sociability and Education

5 The Nature of Love: John Norris, Mary Astell, and Damaris Masham
6 The Nature of Morality: John Locke and Catharine Trotter Cockburn
7 The Nature of Education: Anna van Schurman and Mary Astell
8 Sympathy and Morality: Sophie de Grouchy and David Hume
9 The Debate about Slavery: Jacobus Capitein and Ottobah Cugoano

Part III Mind and Reality

10 God and World: Baruch Spinoza and George Berkeley
11 The Nature of Space: Samuel Clarke and Émilie du Châtelet
12 The Nature of Causation: David Hume and Thomas Reid
13 A Transcendental Approach: Mary Shepherd and Immanuel Kant

Conclusion

Notes
Glossary
Index