Short description:

The Routledge Companion to Eighteenth Century Philosophy is an authoritative 35 chapter survey and assessment of this momentous period, covering the major thinkers, topics and movements in Eighteenth century philosophy.

Long description:

The Eighteenth century is one of the most important periods in the history of Western philosophy, witnessing philosophical, scientific, and social and political change on a vast scale. In spite of this, there are few single volume overviews of the philosophy of the period as a whole.

The Routledge Companion to Eighteenth Century Philosophy is an authoritative survey and assessment of this momentous period, covering major thinkers, topics and movements in Eighteenth century philosophy. Beginning with a substantial introduction by Aaron Garrett, the thirty-five specially commissioned chapters by an outstanding team of international contributors are organised into seven clear parts:

• Context and Movements


• Metaphysics and Understanding


• Mind, Soul, and Perception


• Morals and Aesthetics


• Politics and Society


• Philosophy in relation to the Arts and Sciences


• Major Figures.

Major topics and themes are explored and discussed, ranging from materialism, free will and personal identity; to the emotions, the social contract, aesthetics, and the sciences, including mathematics and biology. The final section examines in more detail three figures central to the period: Hume, Rousseau and Kant. As such The Routledge Companion to Eighteenth Century Philosophy is essential reading for all students of the period, both in philosophy and related disciplines such as politics, literature, history and religious studies.

"A superb volume on eighteenth-century philosophy and a welcome addition to the Routledge Philosophy Companions series. The contributors are top-notch scholars in the field, and the choice and breakdown of topics is original and creative. It should be of great use to both students and seasoned experts." - Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

"A superb collection, imaginatively conceived and expertly realized. Impressively comprehensive in its handling of recent scholarship on the history of eighteenth-century thought, the Companion also asks new questions about the relationship between philosophy and the arts and sciences in the European Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment. The result is a gift to students and essential reading for scholars of modern and early modern philosophy." - Thomas Holden, University of California-Santa Barbara, USA

"A marvelous volume. In Garrett's hands, "eclecticism" proves a fresh and useful way of viewing the period's rich philosophizing. It is high praise to say that this remarkable collection proves wonderfully eclectic as well." - Stephen Darwall, Yale University, USA

"A unique collection that embraces the eclecticism and innovation of a period in which philosophy rapidly and repeatedly reconceived itself. By adapting and combining the methodologies of a variety of schools the moderns developed a nimble, creative, and expansive philosophy. This Companion captures that vitality, and in doing so it is the most comprehensive and historically sensitive survey of eighteenth-century philosophy available." - Rebecca Copenhaver, Lewis & Clark College, USA

Table of Contents:

Introduction: The Eclecticism of Eighteenth-Century Philosophy Aaron Garrett  Part 1: Context and Movements  1. Enlightenment, National Enlightenments, and Translation Fania Oz-Salzberger  2. Newton and Newtonianism Eric Schliesser  3. Materialism Charles Wolfe  4. Immaterialism Jasper Reid  Part 2: Metaphysics and Understanding  5. Reason, revelation, and arguments for the Deity Maria Rosa Antognazza  6. Reason and Understanding Manfred Kuehn  7. Causation Peter Kail  8. Space, evidence, and the authority of Mathematics in the Eighteenth Century Matthew L. Jones  9. What is Time? Yitzhak Melamed  10. Consciousness and Personal Identity Donald Ainslie & Owen Ware  11. Ways to Certainty Dario Perinetti  Part 3: Mind, Soul, and Perception  12. Soul and Mind Thomas Ahnert  13. Liberty, Necessity, and Moral Responsibility James Harris  14. Theories of Perception: Berkeley and his Recent Predecesors Lorne Falkenstein  15. Theories of Perception: After Berkeley Lorne Falkenstein  16. Sensibility Stephen Gaukroger  17. Pleasure, Pain, and Sense Perception Lisa Shapiro  Part 4: Morals and Aesthetics  18. Moral Sense and Sentiment Jacqueline Taylor  19. Kant?s Moral Philosophy Eric Entrican Wilson  20. Utility and Religion James Crimmins  21. Moral Rationalism and Moral Realism Remy Debes  22. Aesthetics Rachel Zuckert  Part 5: Politics and Society  23. The Law of Nature and Nations Ian Hunter  24. Nations, Nationalism, and National Character Silvia Sebastiani  25. Constitutions and Social Contracts Susanne Sreedhar  26. Civil Society Neil McArthur  27. Language Avi Lifschitz  Part 6: Philosophy in relation to the Arts and Sciences  28. Philosophy and the Physical Sciences Stephen Gaukroger  29. Philosophy, Natural History, and the Speculative Science of Origins Justin E. Smith  30. Philosophy of the Human Sciences Margaret Schabas  31. Philosophy and History: The Paradoxes of History Alix Cohen  32. Philosophy and Literature C. Allen Speight  Part 7: Major Figures  33. David Hume Erin Frykholm  34. Jean- Jacques Rousseau Ryan Hanley  35. Immanuel Kant Manfred Kuehn.  Index