Wiley-Blackwell Late Modern Philosophy: Essential Readings with Commentary (Blackwell Readings in the History of Philosophy)

Part of the Blackwell Readings in the History of Philosophy series, this survey of late modern philosophy focuses on the key texts and philosophers of the period whose beliefs changed the course of western thought. Gathers together the key texts from the most significant and influential philosophers of the late modern era to provide a thorough introduction to the period. Features the writings of Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Leibniz, Kant, Rousseau, Bentham and other leading thinkers. Examines such topics as empiricism, rationalism, and the existence of God. Readings are accompanied by expert commentary from the editors, who are leading scholars in the field. Review “This is an excellent anthology with selections that are shrewdly chosen and insightfully introduced, including several in ethics that are unusual but quite important, such as Adam Smith, Richard Price, and Mary Wollstonecraft.” Stephen Darwall, University of Michigan “A rich and wisely chosen collection of key eighteenth-century texts, distinctive in covering not only epistemology and metaphysics, but moral and political philosophy.” Kenneth P. Winkler, Wellesley College From the Inside Flap Late Modern Philosophy introduces the leading ideas of the late modern era, with selections from the writings of its most recognized thinkers, including John Locke, David Hume, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Immanuel Kant, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This period in history represents a turbulent time in Western thought. As revealed in the carefully selected readings of this collection, the principal figures of late modern philosophy clashed over methodological issues and adopted radically different perspectives in metaphysics and theory of knowledge. But just as importantly, they vigorously debated proofs of God’s existence, the justification of political authority, and the foundations of morality. Part of the Blackwell Readings in the History of Philosophy series, this text, with engaging introductory material for students, is an invaluable survey of late modern philosophy. From the Back Cover Late Modern Philosophy introduces the leading ideas of the late modern era, with selections from the writings of its most recognized thinkers, including John Locke, David Hume, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Immanuel Kant, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This period in history represents a turbulent time in Western thought. As revealed in the carefully selected readings of this collection, the principal figures of late modern philosophy clashed over methodological issues and adopted radically different perspectives in metaphysics and theory of knowledge. But just as importantly, they vigorously debated proofs of God's existence, the justification of political authority, and the foundations of morality. Part of the Blackwell Readings in the History of Philosophy series, this text, with engaging introductory material for students, is an invaluable survey of late modern philosophy. About the Author Elizabeth S. Radcliffe is Professor of Philosophy at Santa Clara University. Her areas of specialization include Hume, ethical theory, motivational psychology, and seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy. She is the author of On Hume (2000), editor of A Companion to Hume (Blackwell, 2007), and was co-editor of the journal Hume Studies from 2000 to 2005. Richard McCarty is Associate Professor of Philosophy at East Carolina University. His research focuses on Kant and the history of modern philosophy. Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. His main areas of research are ethical theory, applied ethics, and the philosophy of biology/science. His work has been published in, among other places, the American Journal of Bioethics, the Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, the International Journal of Applied Philosophy, and the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal. Anand Jay