The Rationalists: Descartes, Spinoza and LeibnizDescartes, Spinoza and Leibniz stand out among their seventeenth-century contemporaries as the great rationalist philosophers. Each sought to construct a philosophical system in which theological and philosophical foundations serve to explain the physical, mental and moral universe. Through a careful analysis of their work, Pauline Phemister explores the rationalists seminal contribution to the development of modern philosophy. Broad terminological agreement and a shared appreciation of the role of reason in ethics do not mask the very significant disagreements that led to three distinctive philosophical systems: Cartesian dualism, Spinozan monism and Leibnizian pluralism. The book explores the nature of, and offers reasons for, these differences. Phemister contends that Spinoza and Leibniz developed their systems in part through engagements with and amendment of Cartesian philosophy, and critically analyses the arguments and contributions of all three philosophers. The clarity of the authors discussion of their key ideas including their views on knowledge, universal languages, the nature of substance and substances, bodies, the relation of mind and body, freedom, and the role of distinct perception and reason in morals will make this book the ideal introduction to rationalist philosophy. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
System Builders | 20 |
Knowledge and Ideas | 43 |
Substance | 61 |
Spinozas God | 80 |
One and Many | 100 |
Descartes and Spinoza | 117 |
Leibniz | 132 |
Descartes | 147 |
Spinoza and Leibniz | 166 |
Problems of Freedom | 183 |
Freedom Activity and Selfdetermination | 199 |
Notes | 219 |
224 | |
232 | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolutely infinite active force actually Arnauld attribute of extension attribute of thought Cartesian causal chapter claim complete concept composed composite bodies comprise conceived constitute contingent corporeal substance correspondence created substances CSMK Descartes Discourse on Metaphysics distinguish Ethics exist express extended body external fact final causes finite freedom God's attribute God’s essence human body ibid ical included independence individual bodies individual substances indivisible infinite intellect interaction intuited kind of knowledge laws logical matter Meditation mind and body modes modifications monad Monadology monism moral motion natura naturata objects ontological organic body particular passive perceive perfect physical pineal gland possible world pre-established harmony Principles of Philosophy proof Proposition Proposition 13 qualities reason relation René Descartes res extensa Scholium sense perceptions sequence simple substance soul Spinoza and Leibniz stance substantial forms tence Theodicy things thinking thought and extension tion true understanding unity universe whole