Philosophy Now Forum

If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?


What about good secondary companion texts to read alongside?
Thoughts on these secondary texts:

- by Frederick Copleston "History of Philosophy: The Rationalists: Descartes to Leibniz Vol 4 & the Vol 5 on Empiricists?
- "Learning from Six Philosophers: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume" by Jonathan Bennett

I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
- Bertrand Russell's History of Wester Philosophy was ok for Intro but I'm thinking of spending 2 -3 weeks on each Philosopher to get a broader understanding of the background to Modernist philosophy.

I'd go with whatever made the most sense to you, during your degree program. You must have come out with some preferences, no? And if they no longer seem to fit, work with some others. What are your main interests? Perhaps start with some good readings in that.

lukasecho wrote:If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?


What about good secondary companion texts to read alongside?
Thoughts on these secondary texts:

- by Frederick Copleston "History of Philosophy: The Rationalists: Descartes to Leibniz Vol 4 & the Vol 5 on Empiricists?
- "Learning from Six Philosophers: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume" by Jonathan Bennett

I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
- Bertrand Russell's History of Wester Philosophy was ok for Intro but I'm thinking of spending 2 -3 weeks on each Philosopher to get a broader understanding of the background to Modernist philosophy.

Don't read any of that shit, read science.

lukasecho wrote:If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?


What about good secondary companion texts to read alongside?
Thoughts on these secondary texts:

- by Frederick Copleston "History of Philosophy: The Rationalists: Descartes to Leibniz Vol 4 & the Vol 5 on Empiricists?
- "Learning from Six Philosophers: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume" by Jonathan Bennett

I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
- Bertrand Russell's History of Wester Philosophy was ok for Intro but I'm thinking of spending 2 -3 weeks on each Philosopher to get a broader understanding of the background to Modernist philosophy.

Looking at philosophy by Palmer - sure it covers a few more philosophers but it is a very enjoyable read

-Imp

HexHammer wrote:

lukasecho wrote:If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?


What about good secondary companion texts to read alongside?
Thoughts on these secondary texts:

- by Frederick Copleston "History of Philosophy: The Rationalists: Descartes to Leibniz Vol 4 & the Vol 5 on Empiricists?
- "Learning from Six Philosophers: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume" by Jonathan Bennett

I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
- Bertrand Russell's History of Wester Philosophy was ok for Intro but I'm thinking of spending 2 -3 weeks on each Philosopher to get a broader understanding of the background to Modernist philosophy.

Don't read any of that shit, read science.

Don't read any of Hex's shit. Read anything else.

Dalek Prime wrote:Don't read any of Hex's shit. Read anything else.

Wrong! I'm 1 of the few intelligent people here, everybody else speak straight out of their asses!

HexHammer wrote:

Dalek Prime wrote:Don't read any of Hex's shit. Read anything else.

Wrong! I'm 1 of the few intelligent people here, everybody else speak straight out of their asses!

One. I know you can spell it, if you but put your mind to it.

lukasecho wrote:If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

...

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?
...
I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
...

Eh!? What the hell were you doing on your B.A.?

Hume said everything you need for any philosophy of any relevance up to and including the 19thC.

The 20thC got interesting with phenomonology, existentialism and the post modern deconstruction of all that bullshit. So that all you are left with in the end is Hume.

Arising_uk wrote:

lukasecho wrote:If I wanted to get a reasonable background understanding of "Early Modern Philosophy" (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) over say 6 months.

...

What are the Key Primary Texts you would recommend?
...
I did a B.A in Philosophy Years ago, and I'm getting back into it.
...

Eh!? What the hell were you doing on your B.A.?

Definitely makes one wonder.

If you want to know where philosophy has BEEN read all of the above.

If you want to know where philosophy is GOING read "Process and Reality" by Alfred North Whitehead.

No, seriously. How does one take a philosophy degree and not have some grounding in the major philosophers?

Whitehead sounds good. Longer bucket list.

Dalek Prime wrote:No, seriously. How does one take a philosophy degree and not have some grounding in the major philosophers?

Whitehead sounds good. Longer bucket list.

Well I think you are understestimating how many "years" were involved in "years ago".. I remember Descartes, Locke, Hobbes, but I don't really remember ever reading Berkeley, or Leibniz for instance. Although I suspect that I did at least read a little of them, a week or two on each of them in a First year "Introduction to Philososphy" course.

Fair enough. My memory sucks too.

lukasecho wrote:

Dalek Prime wrote:No, seriously. How does one take a philosophy degree and not have some grounding in the major philosophers?

Whitehead sounds good. Longer bucket list.

Well I think you are understestimating how many "years" were involved in "years ago".. I remember Descartes, Locke, Hobbes, but I don't really remember ever reading Berkeley, or Leibniz for instance. Although I suspect that I did at least read a little of them, a week or two on each of them in a First year "Introduction to Philososphy" course.

Leibniz: monadology
Berkeley : three dialogues

-Imp