Western philosophy: Enlightenment Books

Book SynopsisColonial Canada changed enormously between the 1760s and the 1860s, the Conquest and Confederation, but the idea of civilization seen to guide those transformations changed still more. A cosmopolitan and optimistic theory of history was written into the founding Canadian constitution as a check on state violence, only to be reversed and undone over the next century. Civilization was hegemony, a contradictory theory of unrestrained power and restraints on that power. Occupying a middle ground between British and American hegemonies, all the different peoples living in Canada felt those contradictions very sharply. Both Britain and America came to despair of bending Canada violently to their will, and new forms of hegemony, a greater reckoning with soft power, emerged in the wake of those failures.E.A. Heaman shows that the view from colonial Canada matters for intellectual and political history. Canada posed serious challenges to the Scottish Enlightenment, the Pax Britannica, Trade Review"Civilization bridges philosophy and Canadian history by blending insights from a major school of moral philosophy with certain founding practices, biases, and debates in nineteenth-century Canada. The result is extremely original and thought-provoking. The writing is rich: a pleasure to read and written in an individual style with a humanist’s regard for language and breadth of disciplines. I am convinced this book will have a lasting impact on Canadian scholarship about national values past and future." John Weaver, McMaster University"E.A. Heaman's lengthy and important new book engages with imperialism, colonization, residential schools, oppression, conquest, and much else in a Canadian context, but its overarching concept is that of civilization. More balanced in its assessment of imperial ambition and colonial folly ... Heaman's tome resists simple binaries of heroes and villains. …As Civilization demonstrates so well, a lot depends on who does the civilizing, to whom, and how.” Literary Review of Canada

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Book SynopsisCivilization explores how Scottish Enlightenment theories played out in Canadian imaginaries and institutions: the state and society; the liberal and the conservative. E.A. Heaman’s case study identifies crucial spaces and moments of conceptual reversal to consider what was unique and what was broadly representative in Canadian civilization.Trade Review"Civilization bridges philosophy and Canadian history by blending insights from a major school of moral philosophy with certain founding practices, biases, and debates in nineteenth-century Canada. The result is extremely original and thought-provoking. The writing is rich: a pleasure to read and written in an individual style with a humanist’s regard for language and breadth of disciplines. I am convinced this book will have a lasting impact on Canadian scholarship about national values past and future." John Weaver, McMaster University"E.A. Heaman's lengthy and important new book engages with imperialism, colonization, residential schools, oppression, conquest, and much else in a Canadian context, but its overarching concept is that of civilization. More balanced in its assessment of imperial ambition and colonial folly ... Heaman's tome resists simple binaries of heroes and villains. …As Civilization demonstrates so well, a lot depends on who does the civilizing, to whom, and how.” Literary Review of Canada

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Book SynopsisRethinking the relationship between eighteenth-century Pietist traditions and Enlightenment thought and practice, The Practices of Enlightenment unravels the complex and often neglected religious origins of modern secular discourse. Mapping surprising routes of exchange between the religious and aesthetic writings of the period and recentering concerns of authorship and audience, this book revitalizes scholarship on the Enlightenment. By engaging with three critical categories-aesthetics, authorship, and the public sphere-The Practices of Enlightenment illuminates the relationship between religious and aesthetic modes of reflective contemplation, autobiography and the hermeneutics of the self, and the discursive creation of the public sphere. Focusing largely on German intellectual life, this critical engagement also extends to France through Rousseau and to England through Shaftesbury. Rereading canonical works and lesser-known texts by Goethe, Lessing, and Herder, the book challenTrade ReviewA remarkable and innovative investigation of the confluence of religious (especially pietistic) and aesthetic writings in shaping Enlightenment thought, offering a decisive intervention into intellectual history and the emergence of the aesthetic lexicon that still accompanies us today. -- Paul Fleming, Cornell University This risk-taking, cliche-breaking book embodies the virtues of the writers it studies. Lessing, Rousseau, Kant, Herder, and Goethe come alive in its pages as the inventors of a new apprehension of art, as explorers of interiority, as creators of a critical public. Synthetic vision, astonishing breadth of learning, and richly textured analysis combine to produce a study of remarkable power and subtlety. Every chapter inspired me. The Practices of Enlightenment is a worthy successor to Habermas's great book on the emergence of the public sphere. -- David E. Wellbery, University of Chicago If the legacy of the Enlightenment has been endlessly debated, its origins are hardly well understood. Here, with great precision and elegance, Dorothea von Mucke traces the fundamental religious underpinnings of some key secular achievements of eighteenth-century culture, namely aesthetics, the individual, and the public sphere. This prepares the way for some rather unexpected-and convincing-readings of key Enlightenment texts. The reader emerges with a profound sense of how our secularism has been shaped from its inception by theological forms of thought, a timely consideration. -- David Bates, University of California, Berkeley Why are the arts and literature such crucial spaces for the modern cultivation of human freedom? Dorothea von Mucke gives this question a remarkable history, revealing how and why aesthetics became so fundamental to Western ideals of creativity, responsibility, and autonomy. Moving nimbly across theology, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, and print culture-and engaging a host of eighteenth-century literary figures from the familiar to the unknown-von Mucke's book charts how the Enlightenment made artistic creativity the very marker of humanity itself. -- Jonathan Sheehan, University of California, BerkeleyTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part One. The Birth of Aesthetics, the Ends of Teleology, and the Rise of Genius 1. The Surprising Origins of Enlightenment Aesthetics 2. Disinterested Interest: The Human Animal's Lack of Instinct 3. Beautiful, not Intelligent Design 4. Enlightenment Discourses on Original Genius 5. "Where Nature Gives the Rule to Art" 6. The Strasbourg Cathedral: Edification and Theophany Conclusion Part Two. Confessional Discourse, Autobiography, and Authorship 7. Pietism 8. Rousseau 9. Goethe: From the "Confessions of a Beautiful Soul" to Poetry and Truth Part Three. Imagined Communities and the Mobilization of a Critical Public 10. Patriotic Invocations of the Public 11. Real and Virtual Audiences in Herder's Concept of the Modern Public 12. Mobilizing a Critical Public Notes Index

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Book SynopsisI shall here present my life, writes Descartes in Discourse on Method, as in a painting and my method as a fable. Through the Eyes of Descartes demonstrates how a Cartesian aesthetics is interwoven in his thought. It brings together a variety of materials: his metaphysical writings and essays in natural philosophy, through to his letters, drawings, and printed images. Cecilia Sjöholm and Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback seek to bring Descartes into dialogue with contemporary phenomenology as well as contemporary psychoanalytic thought. They focus on how perception interacts with emotions and thought, and the way in which our gaze is directed toward limit-phenomena of beauty and fascination. In Through the Eyes of Descartes, Cecilia Sjöholm and Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback counter the traditional picture of Descartes by presenting his work in an entirely different light: a Descartes of the arts, of sensibility, of inner images, and of imagination.Trade Review"Through the Eyes of Descartes presents an unorthodox but highly compelling reading of Descartes' philosophical project. Against the tired old dogma of the "Cartesian split" between the mind and the body, Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback and Cecilia Sjöholm retrieve the philosophical significance of the body for the French thinker via their patient interpretations of Descartes' aesthetics, as well as his notions of love, maternity, meteorology, and the role of various bodily organs in the task of thinking. This is a new milestone in Descartes studies!"—Michael Marder, author of The Phoenix Complex: A Philosophy of Nature"Sjöholm and Cavalcante Schuback offer a new and original reading of Descartes. Descartes's work, over the centuries, has been interpreted as the account of the emergence of the European rationality that discovers the world through a rational intellect completely encapsulated within itself, detached from any exteriority, autonomous and autogenous, detached from the cosmos and nature. Through the Eyes of Descartes successfully challenges this monolithic image of Descartes' philosophy, thus rediscovering his work in a completely different light."—Giovanbattista Tusa, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal

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Book SynopsisA new understanding of the Anthropocene that is based on mutual transformation with nature rather than control over nature.We have been told that we are living in the Anthropocene, a geological era shaped by humans rather than by nature. In Enlivenment, German philosopher Andreas Weber presents an alternative understanding of our relationship with nature, arguing not that humans control nature but that humans and nature exist in a commons of mutual transformation. There is no nature-human dualism, he contends, because the fundamental dimension of existence is shared in what he calls aliveness. All subjectivity is intersubjectivity. Self is self-through-other. Seeing all beings in a common household of matter, desire, and imagination, an economy of metabolic and economic transformation, is “enlivenment.” This perspective allows us to move beyond Enlightenment-style thinking that strips material reality of any subjectivity.To take this step, Weber argu

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Book SynopsisThe late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are known as the Age of Enlightenment, a time of science and reason. In this book, the author reveals the surprising extent to which Newton, Boyle, Locke, and other giants of rational thought and empiricism also embraced the spiritual, the magical, and the occult.Trade Review"A definitive document of its material."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review * Publisher's Weekly *“[A] serious yet lively work, chockablock with facts, anecdotes, and original research.”—Michael Dirda, The Washington Post -- Michael Dirda * The Washington Post *“A first-class study of the pursuit of the occult in England from the Restoration through 1815.”—Library Journal * Library Journal *"...[T]he book contains a wealth of information that adds to the ongoing scholarly conversations regarding the dynamics of the shifting fortunes of alchemy, astrology, and magic (both natural and ritual) in the early modern period."—Lawrence Principe, Chicago Journals -- Lawrence Principe * Chicago Journals *

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Book SynopsisIn the Enlightenments it was often argued that moral conduct, rather than adherence to theological doctrine, was the true measure of religious belief. The author argues that this enlightened emphasis on conduct in religion relied less on arguments from reason alone than has been believed.Trade Review“Thomas Ahnert’s cogently argued and highly original monograph amounts to a complete reversal of some of the most commonly accepted features of what the Enlightenment—and not only that in Scotland—was about.”—Knud Haakonssen, University of Erfurt and University of St. Andrews -- Knud Haakonssen“Ahnert’s polyglot grasp of Latin primary source materials and secondary scholarship in German, French, and Italian brings a depth and solidity to his scholarship on the Moderate theologians of eighteenth-century Scotland. His arresting revisionist case study brings back to life aspects of history which most scholars in this field can barely touch, far less revivify.”—Colin Kidd, author of Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland 1500–2000 -- Colin Kidd

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Book SynopsisLooks at the eighteenth-century Scottish Enlightenment - which gave birth to modern-day environmentalism - and sheds new light on Scottish thinkers such as Carl Linneaus, David Hume and Adam Smith. In this book, the author argues that Smith's defence of free markets was actually based on idealized notions of self-regulating natural systems.Trade Review “Enlightenment’s Frontier is a wonderful work of environmental, intellectual and social history, which will change historical understanding of eighteenth-century Scotland and illuminate contemporary choices about energy and sustainability.”—Emma Rothschild, Harvard University -- Emma Rothschild “A lively work, written with subtlety, some considerable humor, and always conscious of its contemporary relevance . . . this volume should be read by those with an interest in the history of enlightenment thought, empire and science, development ideology, and environmentalism.”—Paul Warde, University of East Anglia -- Paul Warde “An important and interesting book and one that should speak to different historical scholars—of Enlightenment, of intellectual history, of British and Scottish history.”—Charles W. J. Withers, University of Edinburgh -- Charles W J Withers“This nuanced study is a model of intellectual and environmental history.”—Environmental History * Environmental History *“[Jonsson’s] learned and lucidly written book will draw other scholars’ attention to the period when enlightened Scots looked northward with a mixture of nostalgia, puzzlement, and trepidation.”—Journal of British Studies * Journal of British Studies *“One of the most interesting books published on the Scottish Enlightenment in some time . . . For those interested in the Enlightenment, environmentalism, and eighteenth-century Scotland, this is a book to be read.”—American Historical Review * American Historical Review *“An insightful interpretation of how the Highlands served as a focal point for the environmental reflections of naturalists and politicians.”—Eighteenth-Century Studies * Eighteenth-Century Studies *

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Book Synopsis''A rich, sprawling epic full of history and magic.'' Alix E. Harrow, Hugo award-winning authorA sweeping tale of revolution and wonder in a world not quite like our own, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a genre-defying story of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom.It is the Age of Enlightenment -- of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France to the weather mage Toussaint L''Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic amongst commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas. But amidst all of the upheaval of the enlightened world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilisation into violent conflict. And it will require the combined efforts of revolutionaries, magicians, and abolitionists to unmask this hidden enemy before the whole Trade ReviewA beautiful tapestry of words, a combination of carefully observed and researched history and a well-thought-out and fascinating system of magic. An absolute delight to read. * Genevieve Cogman, author of THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY *Impressively intricate; fans of the magic-and-history of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will be delighted. * Alexandra Rowland, author of A CONSPIRACY OF TRUTHS *A rich, sprawling epic full of history and magic. * Alix E. Harrow, Hugo Award-winning author *Puts a human face on the titans of the past, while weaving in supernatural elements that add a whole new dimension. I stayed up well past my bedtime to find out what happens next. * Marie Brennan, author of The Memoirs of Lady Trent series *Many have tried and some have succeeded in writing mashups with famed literary characters, but Parry knocks it out of the park... Just plain wonderful * Kirkus on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *Fun, witty, and full of insights about the powerful effect of stories on our lives, this book is highly recommended. Give it to readers who devoured Jasper Fforde, Jim C. Hines' Libriomancer, and Genevieve Cogman's The Invisible Library, and to readers looking for adventurous fantasy with a soupçon of family drama. * Booklist (starred review) on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *H.G. Parry's ambitious debut novel is a delight of magic and literature, love and adventure. With vibrant characters and a passion for story that shines through every word, this engaging read establishes Parry as a writer to watch. * Kat Howard on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *A delightful blend of adventure and mystery and marvel, a story in which the fantastical becomes real. This beautifully-written novel is an exploration of the power fiction wields -- the power to inform and to change, even to endanger, our everyday world. * Louisa Morgan on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *A daring exploration of the worlds within words. Parry writes with the keen insight of Sherlock Holmes, the generous heart of David Copperfield, and the haunting soul of Dorian Gray. * Jordanna Max Brodsky on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *A joyous adventure through all the tales you've ever loved. Funny, charming, clever and heartfelt, you're absolutely going to adore The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. * Tasha Suri on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *H.G. Parry has crafted an imaginative and unique exploration of how words shift our lives in ways big and small. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is a rollicking adventure that thrills like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere mashed up with Penny Dreadful in the best post-modern way. Equal parts sibling rivalry, crackling mystery, and Dickensian battle royale, it'll be one of your most fun reads this year. * Mike Chen on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *Parry does a lovely dance on and around the stage of Dickens and other classical literature, playing fast and loose with the nature of reality to tell a story about the transformative act of the reading process and the importance of family, both found and not. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is dead clever and enormously satisfying. * Vivian Shaw on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *Clever, emotionally compelling, and teeming with witty allusions. In a story reminiscent of the literary world-bending adventures of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next, Parry has crafted a tale which will appeal to the cherished dreams-and secret nightmares-of all bibliophiles. * Cass Morris on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *If you've ever checked the backs of your wardrobe for snow and lamp-light -- if you've ever longed to visit Pemberley House or 221B Baker Street, to battle the Jabberwock or wander through a fictional London fog -- this book belongs to you. It's a star-studded literary tour and a tangled mystery and a reflection on reading itself; it's a pure delight. * Alix E. Harrow on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *Engaging and intelligent, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep kept me turning the pages to discover familiar characters and surprising twists. * Rowenna Miller on THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP *

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Using a complete interpretation of Whitehead’s philosophical and mathematical writings, this book argues that Whitehead has never been properly understood. It applies Whitehead’s philosophy to problems in the interpretation of science, empirical knowledge, and nature, and develops a new account of philosophical naturalism.

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Book SynopsisImmanuel Kant's moral philosophy is one of the most distinctive achievements of the European Enlightenment. At its heart lies what Kant called the 'strange thing': the free, rational, human will. This introduction explores the basis of Kant's anti-naturalist, secular, humanist vision of the human good. Moving from a sketch of the Kantian will, with all its component parts and attributes, to Kant's canonical arguments for his categorical imperative, this introduction shows why Kant thought his moral law the best summary expression of both his own philosophical work on morality and his readers' deepest shared convictions about the good. Kant's central tenets, key arguments, and core values are presented in an accessible and engaging way, making this book ideal for anyone eager to explore the fundamentals of Kant's moral philosophy.Trade Review'Uleman consistently states her aims in each chapter clearly, organizes discussions well, and poses questions to make her train of thought easy to follow. Her grasp of the details of Kant's moral philosophy as well as of how those details hang together to form a whole is rare and impressive. This work should prove to be very helpful to many students.' Lara Denis, Agnes Scott College'This engaging book is a wonderful introduction to Kant's moral philosophy. It explains many of Kant's central concepts, such as those of will, freedom, maxims, and imperatives, clearly and succinctly. But the book also makes an argument that must be taken seriously by every scholar as well as student of Kant: that Kant's formulations of the categorical imperative collectively analyze what it is to make the realization of freedom the ultimate goal of human action. The book also beautifully shows how Kant unfolds the value of realizing our freedom without reducing his argument to the kind of empirical, psychological morality that Kant rejects. This is a wise, insightful work.' Paul Guyer, University of PennsylvaniaTable of Contents1. Introduction: the strange thing; 2. A sketch of Kantian will: desire and the human subject; 3. A sketch continued: the structure of practical reason; 4. A sketch completed: freedom; 5. Against nature: Kant's argumentative strategy; 6. The categorical imperative: free will willing itself; 7. What's so good about the good Kantian will? The appeals of the strange thing; 8. Conclusion: Kant and the good free rational will; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisKant's Critique of Judgment has often been interpreted by scholars as comprising separate treatments of three uneasily connected topics: beauty, biology, and empirical knowledge. Rachel Zuckert's book interprets the Critique as a unified argument concerning all three domains.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: '… impressive in its intellectual scope, its clearly-written quality, its well-informed, considerable citation of the secondary literature in Kant scholarship and its manner of arguing for a variety of nuanced positions that arise within the text's many subthemes. It is a contribution that stands solidly on the shoulders of the presently leading Kant scholarship and that integrates itself well into it.' British Journal for the History of PhilosophyTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The problem: unity of the diverse; 2. Reflective judgment and its principle: preliminary remarks; Part I. Teleological Judgment: 3. The critique of teleological judgment: purposiveness is the 'highest formal unity'; 4. A merely subjective principle: time and the 'peculiarities of our intellects'; Part II. Aesthetic Judgment: Introduction; 5. Beautiful objects: subjectively purposive form; 6. Aesthetic pleasure: the feeling of subjective, projective temporality; 7. The free harmony of the faculties: purposiveness as the principle of aesthetic Beurteilung; 8. The justification of aesthetic judgment: purposiveness as the principle of reflective judging; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is Kant's central contribution to moral philosophy, and has inspired controversy ever since it was first published in 1785. Kant champions the insights of 'common human understanding' against what he sees as the dangerous perversions of ethical theory. Morality is revealed to be a matter of human autonomy: Kant locates the source of the 'categorical imperative' within each and every human will. However, he also portrays everyday morality in a way that many readers find difficult to accept. The Groundwork is a short book, but its argument is dense, intricate and at times treacherous. This commentary explains Kant's arguments paragraph by paragraph, and also contains an introduction, a synopsis of the argument, six short interpretative essays on key topics of the Groundwork, and a glossary of key terms. It will be an indispensable tool for anyone wishing to study the Groundwork in detail.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: '… an indispensable resource for anyone wishing to study Kant's ethical theory in detail. Timmermann's book is an important resource for almost any student or faculty member who wants a deeper understanding of Kant's Groundwork for either teaching or research.' Sean P. Walsh, Notre Dame Philosophical ReviewReview of the hardback: 'Timmermann's commentary is nothing less the magisterial. This is without a doubt the best book available on one of the most important books on the history of philosophy.' Political Studies ReviewTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Transition from common to philosophic moral cognition of reason; 2. Transition from popular moral philosophy to the metaphysics of morals; 3. Transition from the metaphysics of morals to the critique of pure practical reason; Appendices.

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Book SynopsisIn this thoughtful and brilliant bestselling new book, Derren Brown, internationally bestselling author of HAPPY, considers the value of difficulty in our lives.Trade ReviewEnlightening, thought-provoking and illuminating. Derren Brown asks questions about the world, and his intelligent curiosity benefits us all. -- Elizabeth Day

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Book SynopsisPaul Avis is Honorary Professor in the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK, as well as Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, UK, and Editor-in-Chief of Ecclesiology.Trade ReviewIn this momentous work, the author gives a comprehensive and fresh examination of the Enlightenment's philosophies, religious thought and theology. This book is an invaluable guide for navigating the critical debates on the Enlightenment. Anyone interested in understanding the theological dimension of the Enlightenment will definitely welcome this magnificent book. -- Nikolaus Knoepffler, The University of Jena, GermanyThis book makes a very significant contribution to recent re-working of the Enlightenment. Avis, with his customary detailed scholarship and careful articulation, has drawn out the issues and presents a provocative and detailed account of theology and the End the Enlightenment. An excellent piece of accessible scholarly writing. -- Bruce Kaye, Charles Sturt University, CanberraTable of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Engaging the Enlightenment Chapter 2: Scapegoating the Enlightenment Chapter 3: A Virtuous Enlightenment Chapter 4: The Enlightenment and Religion Chapter 5: The Anglican Enlightenment Chapter 6: Enlightenment History and the Bible Chapter 7: The Enlightenment in the Frame of Christian Theology Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe final work of the esteemed philosopher William Demopoulos supplants logical empiricism’s accounts of physical theories, which fail to satisfactorily engage modern physics. Arguing for a new appreciation of the tightly woven character of theory and evidence, Demopoulos offers novel insights into the distinctive nature of quantum reality.Trade ReviewDemopoulos has crafted a thoughtful and interesting interpretation of quantum mechanics that completes his earlier work of the mid-’70s…A wonderful tribute to a very significant philosopher. -- Adrian Heathcote * Metascience *Demopoulos wrote ‘for the eye of God and the good of my soul,’ as he used to say. On Theories is a stunning achievement, a profound argument for a novel thesis about the nature of truth in scientific theories, ranging from case studies about our understanding of molecular reality to Bohr’s dispute with Einstein about quantum reality. -- Jeffrey Bub, University of MarylandOn Theories, a painstaking analysis of the seemingly straightforward concept of theory, takes us on an exciting journey through twentieth-century science and philosophy of science. It critiques naïve dogmas such as the theory/observation dichotomy, replacing them with a nuanced account centered on the notion of ‘theory-mediated measurement.’ On the basis of this account, Demopoulos offers a novel interpretation of major breakthroughs in classical as well as quantum mechanics. Meticulous in its historical analysis and compelling in its philosophical argument, On Theories is a must for anyone interested in science and its method. -- Yemima Ben-Menahem, The Hebrew University of JerusalemWilliam Demopoulos was one of the leading philosophers of science of his generation. An accomplished logician whose mastery of the logicist tradition was unequaled, he was just as productive in contemporary philosophy of physics, especially philosophy of quantum physics. On Theories brings to a stunning close a line of research he actively pursued for the last two decades: the epistemology and ontology of physical theories. This is not only an important book but a rare landmark in the development of the discipline. -- Thomas Uebel, University of Manchester

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Book SynopsisPresents a commentary on - and reinterpretation of - the founding work of modern philosophy, "Descartes' Meditations". This title provides a reading of the text, giving an account of the positions against which Descartes was reacting, and revealing anew the unity, meaning, and originality of the Meditations.Trade Review"Between Two Worlds displays a very strong and textually based reading. It would have enormous value to those with a serious interest in understanding Descartes."--Michael Pereira, Metapsychology.net "Carriero offers a powerful and controversial explanation... Because of its systematic ability to deepen our understanding of every aspect of the Meditations, Between Two Worlds sets the standard for interpretations of the Meditations for the foreseeable future."--Michael Della Rocca, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "Like the best philosophical writing, Carriero's book constantly stimulates reflections that take us beyond the minutiae of textual interpretation to wider philosophical (and indeed theological) issues. This is not to say that the work is lacking in scholarly detail; on the contrary, it is marked from first to last by the most meticulous attention to the text... [Carriero] creates for the reader a delightful sense of being alone with Descartes as he wrestles with Aquinas--a contest of champions, beautifully described."--John Cottingham, Mind "Between Two Worlds is a real achievement: a wonderful combination of philosophical insight and close textual analysis; from now on an essential vade mecum for any serious reader of the Meditations."--RogerWoolhouse, European LegacyTable of ContentsPreface ix Note on Translations xv Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The First Meditation 27 Chapter 2: The Second Meditation 65 Chapter 3: (I) The Third Meditation: The Truth Rule and the "Chief and Most Common Mistake" 128 Chapter 3: (II) The Third Meditation: Two Demonstrations of God's Existence 168 Chapter 4: The Fourth Meditation 223 Chapter 5: The Fifth Meditation 280 Chapter 6: The Sixth Meditation 359 Notes 427 Bibliography 489 Index Locorum 495 Subject Index 505

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Book SynopsisSeeks to bridge the gap between philosophers who use the idea of reason to assess human behavior from a normative point of view and social scientists who use the idea of rationality to explain behavior. This book proposes a unified conceptual framework for the study of behavior.Trade Review"For those with some grounding in the study of human behaviour, Elster does a remarkable job of bringing together seemingly disparate concerns... [T]his essay (as it effectively is) provides a concise overview of his dominant concerns and a useful introduction to his thought."--Ben Saunders, Political Studies Review "I highly recommend the book, which explains in clear and simple terms the complexity of human behavior and the logic that underlies it."--Aaron Ben-Ze'ev, European LegacyTable of ContentsReason and Rationality Works Cited

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Book SynopsisPresents an analysis of one of history's greatest intellectual epochs: the Enlightenment. Arguing that there was a common foundation beneath the diverse strands of thought of this period, this book shows how Enlightenment philosophers drew upon the ideas of the preceding centuries even while radically transforming them to fit the modern world.Trade Review"Cassirer's The Philosophy of the Enlightenment offers much to today's student of the cultural sciences... If nothing else, in our world of concise histories and quick overviews, Philosophy of the Enlightenment is still an excellent and detailed handbook for anyone interested in the various philosophical currents of the Enlightenment."--Hans-Peter Soder, European LegacyTable of ContentsFOREWORD vii PREFACE xi Chapter I. THE MIND OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT 3 Chapter II. NATURE AND NATURAL SCIENCE 37 Chapter III. PSYCHOLOGY AND EPISTEMOLOGY 93 Chapter IV. RELIGION 134 I. The Dogma of Original Sin and the Problem of Theodicy 137 II. Tolerance and the Foundation of Natural Religion 160 III. Religion and History 182 Chapter V. THE CONQUEST OF THE HISTORICAL WORLD 197 Chapter VI. LAW, STATE, AND SOCIETY 234 I. Law and the Principle of Inalienable Rights 234 II. The Contract and the Method of the Social Sciences 253 Chapter VII. FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF AESTHETICS 275 I. The Age of Criticism 275 II. Classical Aesthetics and the Objectivity of the Beautiful 278 III. Taste and the Trend toward Subjectivism 297 IV. Intuitional Aesthetics and the Problem of Genius 312 V. Reason and the Imagination: Gottsched and the Swiss Critics 331 VI. The Foundation of Systematic Aesthetics: Baumgarten 338 INDEX 361

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""[A] lively and engaging book. . . . [The Secular Enlightenment] is a refreshingly straightforward defence and even celebration of the Enlightenment and its secular values."---Helena Rosenblatt, Literary Review"The book is an engaging and highly readable tour de force which deserves the widest circulation."---David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer"Jacob is a titan in the modern historiography of the Enlightenment and . . . [The Secular Enlightenment] is simultaneously the culmination of half a century of pioneering research, a measured introduction to the subject for first-time readers, and a pugnacious call to arms."---Sophus A. Reinert, Journal of Modern History"[A] deeply researched and highly readable book."---Michael Levin, European Legacy"In The Secular Enlightenment, Margaret C. Jacob offers a social history of the intellectual movement in the long 18th century that valued the pursuit of knowledge through rigorous reason and scientific evidence. Focusing on cities and ideas from throughout Europe during this time, [Jacob] masterfully blends panoramic scope with vivid detail."---David Greder, Reading Religion

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Book SynopsisIn the Louvre museum hangs a portrait that is considered the iconic image of Rene Descartes, the great seventeenth-century French philosopher. And the painter of the work? The Dutch master Frans Hals--or so it was long believed, until the work was downgraded to a copy of an original. But where is the authentic version, and who painted it? Is the maTrade Review"Steven Nadler has produced another gem of original research and lively and lucid writing."--Catherine Wilson, Times Literary Supplement "Riveting... In The Philosopher, the Priest, and the Painter, Nadler has ... written his most inviting book yet... Nadler's detective work makes for fascinating reading... [T]he resulting survey of Golden Age Dutch culture, Cartesian philosophy and art connoisseurship ... makes for ... very welcome intellectual entertainment."--Michael Dirda, Washington Post "[B]y situating him firmly in his time and place, [Nadler] makes clear what made Descartes the intellectual superstar of his day... [A]n original, intriguing set-up... [A]s an introduction to Descartes' philosophy, it is excellent."--David Wolf, Slate "As one would expect from a distinguished philosopher such as Nadler, the description of Descartes's philosophy, and in particular his Discourse (1637) and Meditations (1641), is flawless."--Jerry Brotton, Literary Review "Cartesian iconography centers around a widely known portrait of Descartes attributed to Frans Hals. In this book, Nadler uses the story of that painting's origin to present a study of Descartes and his philosophy that will be accessible to a wide audience... [T]his volume serves as a very good introduction to Descartes's philosophy in historical context."--Choice "[C]harming... Nadler, an American philosopher and author, has written an immensely readable introduction to Descartes."--Australian "[A] landscape (or at least a well-turned charcoal sketch) of religious, artistic, and economic life in the Netherlands during the first half of the 17th century... Nadler's book ... takes us back upstream a ways--beginning, rather than exempting us from, a dialog with the dead."--Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed "[A]bsorbing."--France Magazine "Nadler is appealing to a wider audience that is looking less for hard-nosed scholarship and more for a story to follow, some intrigue to pique the mind while telling the reader something interesting and informative about the life and work of Descartes. Insofar as the work is meant for a general audience, it accomplishes its aims well enough and should be well-received and enjoyed by those readers."--Aaron Massecar, European Legacy "Nadler gives us a remarkably accessible and historically rich picture of Descartes's life and thought. The book provides a reliable and lively introduction to Descartes for the general reader and for scholars a pleasant portrait of Descartes."--Peter M. Distelzweig, Journal of the History of PhilosophyTable of ContentsIllustrations ix Acknowledgments xiii Chapter 1 Prologue: A Tale of Two Paintings 1 Chapter 2 The Philosopher 8 Chapter 3 The Priest 36 Chapter 4 The Painter 55 Chapter 5 "Once in a Lifetime" 87 Chapter 6 A New Philosophy 111 Chapter 7 God in Haarlem 143 Chapter 8 The Portrait 174 Notes 199 Bibliography 219 Index 227

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A History of Ambiguity is unambiguously wonderful – the sort of book I thought no one could write any more . . . Ossa-Richardson’s book is an epic love song to scholarship . . . . it’s well written and intelligently funny. Ossa-Richardson has the big picture in mind."---Robert Eaglestone, Times Higher Education"Ossa-Richardson demonstrates his mastery of the two classic attributes of the intellectual historian: first, a willingness to do justice to the variety of forms that ideas can take, and second, a close attention to detail in the establishment of intellectual genealogies. As a work of intellectual history, this book is a remarkable achievement."---James Everest, Essays in Criticism

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This collection reveals the extent to which Frederick was engaged with the debates of the French Enlightenment and offers a textured picture of his intellectual world. . . . An invaluable tool."---Anton M. Matytsin, Journal of Modern History

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the PROSE Award in Economics, Association of American Publishers""Intriguing. . . . Capacious. . . . Rich."---Kim Phillips-Fein, New Republic"How did Adam Smith become as American as apple pie? Wisely skipping over the ‘mesmerizingly mundane’ life of the man, about whom we know little, Glory Liu offers a biography of Adam Smith the idea. Traversing three centuries of American thought in fluid prose, Ms. Liu finds traces of Smith in his inspiration of the founding generation, as grist for 19th-century debates over free trade, and as a celebrated apostle of the free market during the Cold War. Synthesizing a wave of recent scholarship on Smith, Ms. Liu elevates his Theory of Moral Sentiments over his canonical Wealth of Nations."---Jennifer Burns, Wall Street Journal (Five Best Biographies of Economists)"A fascinating tour of American economic theory and debate from the late 18th century to the present. . . . Liu’s book is more than an examination of the twists and turns in American economic debate, for it also raises profound questions about economics as a discipline and terrain of debate."---Colin Kidd, New Statesman"This is an excellent book."---Branko Milanovic, Global Inequality and More 3.0"[Adam Smith’s America] illuminates how the ways that readers approach a text become part of that text’s story. . . . A model for doing reception history well."---Rebecca Brenner Graham, Slate"Exemplary. . . . Liu presents Smith’s reception history as a unique window into what she calls the nation’s ‘politics of political economy.’ She is right. . . . Liu demonstrates just how malleable ideologically the interpretation of Smith has been over time."---Jonathan Levy, Boston Review"[A] provocative analysis of Scottish moral philosopher Adam Smith’s influence on U.S. politics and business. . . . This is a rewarding reconsideration of an influential thinker." * Publishers Weekly *"The iconic economist has become all things to all people over time, from Friedman-esque libertarian to anti-capitalist crusader. . . . Even if Chicago, the Heritage Foundation, and other right-leaning entities have tried to seize him for their cause, Liu examines the possibility that he may be ‘closer to the values of the contemporary left’—thus are the many ambiguities in his work. A bracing study not just of Smith’s ideas, but also of how scholars and activists have used (and misused) them." * Kirkus Reviews *"Masterful."---David Bahnsen, Religion & Liberty Online"Fascinating."---Greg Olear, PREVAIL"Lucid and compelling. . . . Adam Smith’s America is an impressively researched and deftly executed book."---Robin Douglass, Global Intellectual History"Maybe it’s a moonshot to imagine lanyard-festooned Seattleite techies as a revolutionary vanguard, but, whatever your political visions: There’s a Smith for that."---Adam Willems, The Stranger"Outstanding work."---Matteo Santarelli, Journal of Interdisciplinary History of Ideas"A detailed and well-researched account of the reception of Adam Smith in America."---Maria Pia Paganelli, History of Economic Thought and Policy

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fascinating."---David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer"A book of great depth and insightfulness, Knowledge Lost is a must read for anyone interested in the Enlightenment."---Dr. Cliff Cunningham, Sun News Austin

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An astute and engaging work of intellectual history. . . . Mr. Douglass’s book insightfully probes Mandeville’s account of prideful sociability, testing it against the criticism of, among others, David Hume."---Jeffrey Collins, Wall Street Journal"Mandeville’s Fable is an enviably learned volume. Lucidly written and judicious in tone, Douglass’ treatment of Mandeville as a social philosopher par excellence sets a high bar for scholars who hope to walk the interpretive tightrope between intellectual history and philosophy as effortlessly as he does."---Glory M. Liu, Centre for the Study of Governance & Society"[Mandeville’s Fable] is a work of serious scholarship. . . . Douglass provides a clear and compelling account of Mandeville’s moral and social thought, one that establishes its subject as a serious thinker whose provocative and ‘unsettling’ . . . ideas retain today their power to provoke and unsettle."---Brandon Turner, Perspectives on Politics"[An] excellent book." * Choice *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An astute and engaging work of intellectual history. . . . Mr. Douglass’s book insightfully probes Mandeville’s account of prideful sociability, testing it against the criticism of, among others, David Hume."---Jeffrey Collins, Wall Street Journal"Mandeville’s Fable is an enviably learned volume. Lucidly written and judicious in tone, Douglass’ treatment of Mandeville as a social philosopher par excellence sets a high bar for scholars who hope to walk the interpretive tightrope between intellectual history and philosophy as effortlessly as he does."---Glory M. Liu, Centre for the Study of Governance & Society"[Mandeville’s Fable] is a work of serious scholarship. . . . Douglass provides a clear and compelling account of Mandeville’s moral and social thought, one that establishes its subject as a serious thinker whose provocative and ‘unsettling’ . . . ideas retain today their power to provoke and unsettle."---Brandon Turner, Perspectives on Politics"[An] excellent book." * Choice *

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsJerry L. Curtis, La Providence: vicissitudes du dieu Voltairien Introduction I. La Période de l'optimisme cosmique II. La Saison du doute III. La Grande crise IV. L'Evolution vers l'absurde Conclusion David Berry, The Technique of literary digression in the fiction of Diderot Introduction Chapter I. The Philosophical works: literary antecedents of the digression in Diderot's work with reference to certain 'œuvres-clés' Chapter II. Les Bijoux indiscrets Chapter III. La Religieuse Chapter IV. Le Neveu de Rameau Chapter V. Jacques le fataliste Conclusion

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsSteve Larkin, Voltaire and Prévost: a reappraisal Theodore E. D. Braun and Gerald R. Culley, Aeschylus, Voltaire, and Le Franc de Pompignan's Prométhée: a critical edition

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface I. Key to the contents of Voltaire's correspondenceII. Key to the contents of Correspondence and related documentsIII. Concordance to the letters IV. Concordance to the appendixes V. Concordance to the supplements

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsTransactions of the Oxford Colloquium held at the Taylor Institution from 26 to 28 May 1978 R. Pomeau, Les Lettres philosophiques: le projet de Voltaire A.-M. Rousseau, Naissance d'un livre et d'un texte: les Letters concerning the English nation W. H. Barber, Voltaire and Samuel Clarke P. Casini, Briarée en miniature: Voltaire et Newton D. Williams, Voltaire's war with England: the appeal to Europe 1760-1764 S. S. B. Taylor, Voltaire's humour J. Scherer, 'L'univers en raccourci': quelques ambitions du roman voltairien J. Vercruysse, Voltaire, Sisyphe en Jermanie: vers la meilleurs des éditions possibles Catalogue of an exhibition of books and manuscripts shown in the Divinity School, Bodleian Library from 2 to 27 May 1978 G. Barber, Voltaire and the English: catalogue of an exhibition W. H. Barber, Voltaire et Newton Norma Perry, The Rainbow, the White Peruke and the Bedford Head: Voltaire's London haunts W. H. Barber, Theodore Besterman

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsVoltaire's British visitors, edited by Sir Gavin de Beer Lester G. Crocker, Voltaire's struggle for humanism Max I. Baym, John Fiske and Voltaire Voltaire's correspondence: additions III, edited by Theodore Besterman Theodore Besterman, Note on the authorship of the Connaissance des beautés Review: René Pomeau, La Religion de Voltaire

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAlfred J. Bingham, Voltaire and the Encyclopédie méthodique E. R. Briggs, Pierre Cuppé's debts to England and Holland Peter Gay, Voltaire's Idées républicaines: a study in bibliography and interpretation Jack Undank, Est-il bon? Est-il méchant?: manuscrits et dates de composition P. M. Conlon, Voltaire's election to the Accademia della Crusca Une lettre inédite de Baculard d'Arnaud à Duclos sur l'affaire de Berlin, présentée par René Duthil et Paul Dimoff Ruth T. Murdoch, Voltaire, James Thomson, and a poem for the Marquise Du Châtelet Robert Shackleton, Voltaire et Montesquieu: a false attribution Bertrand Russell, Voltaire's influence on me Voltaire's correspondence: additions IV, edited by Theodore Besterman The manuscripts of the Institut et Musée Voltaire

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsHywel Berwyn Evans, A provisional bibliography of English editions and translations of Voltaire Theodore Besterman, Some eighteenth-century Voltaire editions unknown to Bengesco (with 35 figures) Jean-Daniel Candaux, Review: Ira O. Wade, The Search for a new Voltaire

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsMargaret Chenais, New light on the publication of the Pucelle Theodore Besterman, The Terra-cotta statue of Voltaire made by Houdon for Beaumarchais J. Th. de Booy, La traduction française de Di una riforma d'Italia de Pilati di Tassulo A. C. Keys, Bret, Douxmenil and the Mémoires of Ninon de Lanclos Jerome Vercruysse, Quelques vers inédits de Voltaire Françoise Weil, A propos du 'portrait' anonyme de Voltaire Voltaire's directions to the actors in Irène, edited by Theodore Besterman Voltaire's correspondence: Additions VI, edited by Theodore Besterman Reviews

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsMerle L. Perkins, Voltaire and the Abbé de Saint-Pierre on world peace J. H. Brumfitt, Voltaire and Warburton Samuel Taylor, La Collaboration de Voltaire au Théâtre français (1767-1769) Virgil W. Topazio, Rousseau, man of contradictions Oscar A. Haac, L'Amour dans les collèges Jésuites : une satire anonyme du dix-huitième siècle Alfred J. Bingham, The Recueil philosophique et littéraire A. C. Keys, The vicissitudes of the Mémoires of Ninon de Lanclos Colin Duckworth, Flaubert and Voltaire's Dictionnaire philosophique J. Vercruysse, La Marquise Du Châtelet, prévote d'une confrérie bruxelloise Jean Daniel Candaux, La Publication de Candide à Paris Madeleine Fields, La Première édition française de la Princese de Babylone J. Th. de Booy, L'Abbé Coger, dit Coge Pecus, lecteur de Voltaire et de d'Holbach Jean Daniel Candaux, Les Débuts de François Grasset Voltaire's British visitors, edited by Sir Gavin de Beer and André Michel Rousseau Theodore Besterman, A provisional bibliography of Italian editions and translations of Voltaire

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPauline Kra, The Invisible chain of the Lettres persanes J. Vercruysse, C'est la faute à Rousseau, c'est la faute à Voltaire Jean A. Perkins, Diderot's concept of virtue Stephen J. Gendzier, Diderot's impact on the generation of 1830 Une anecdote de Diderot sur le Système de la Nature, publiée par J. Th. de Booy J. Lough, Luneau de Boisjermain v. the publishers of the Encyclopédie J. H. Broome, 'L'Homme au cœur velu': the turbulent career of Fougeret de Monbron J. Th. de Booy, Henri Meister et le première édition de la Correspondance littéraire (1812-1813) Lester G. Crocker, L'Analyse des rêves au XVIIIe siècle

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsArticles inédits de Voltaire pour le dictionnaire de l'Académie française, publiés par J. Vercruysse David L. Gobert, Comic in Micromégas as expressive of theme Jean A. Perkins, Voltaire and the natural sciences P. D. Jimack, Rousseau misquoting Voltaire? John Van Eerde, Aspects of social criticism in eighteenth-century French comedy Harriet Dorothy Rothschild, Benoît de Maillet's Marseilles letters Robert L. Myers, Fréron's critique of Rémond de Saint Mard Pierre M. Conlon, Additions to the bibliography of Bossuet

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsJ. Vercruysse, Satire inédite de Voltaire contre J. J. Lefranc de Pompignan Alfred J. Bingham, The earliest criticism of Voltaire's Dictionnaire philosophique James R. Knowlson and Harold T. Betteridge, The Voltaire-Hirschel dispute: unpublished letters and documents Theodore Besterman, A Provisional bibliography of Scandinavian and Finnish editions and translations of Voltaire Gita May, Voltaire a-t-il fait une offre d'hospitalité à Rousseau? Un témoignage peu connu par Jean Marie Roland R. A. Leigh, Observations on the dating of certain Rousseau letters Harry Redman, Marivaux's reputation among his contemporaries Marguerite Marie D. Stevens, L'Idéalisme et le réalisme dans Les Egarements du cœur et de l'esprit de Crébillon fils John Hampton, The Literary technique of the first two Mémoires of Beaumarchais against Goezman D. J. Fletcher, The fortunes of Bolingbroke in France in the eighteenth century R. G. Saisselin, The Rococo muddle Review: Jacques Vier, Histoire de la littérature française

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPierre Haffter, L'Usage satirique des causales dans les contes de Voltaire Dennis J. Fletcher, Bolingbroke and the diffusion of Newtonianism in France Patrick Brady, The Lettres persanes: rococo or neo-classical? M. L. Perkins, Rousseau on history, liberty, and national survival John Renwick, Reconstruction and interpretation of the genesis of the Bélisaire affair, with an unpublished letter from Marmontel to Voltaire Christopher Todd, La Harpe quarrels with the actors: unpublished correspondence Patrick Brady, Manon Lescaut: classical, romantic, or rococo?

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsJ. Vercruysse, Bibliographie des écrits français relatifs à Voltaire, 1719-1830 André G. Bourassa, Polémique et propagande dans Rome sauvée et Les Triumvirs de Voltaire O. R Taylor, La Henriade: a complementary note R. J. Howells, The Metaphysic of nature: basic values and their application in the social philosophy of Rousseau R. G. Saisselin, Rousseau and portraiture: from representation to fiction Norma Perry, A Forged letter from Frederick to Voltaire C. Kiernan, Helvétius and a science of ethics Jean A. Perkins, Irony and candour in certain libertin novels R. L. Myers, Rémond dialogues Norma Perry, John Vansommer of Spitalfields: Huguenot, silk-designer, and correspondent of Voltaire Harriet Dorothy Rothschild, Benoît de Maillet's letters to the marquis de Caumont

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsJean Leduc, Les Sources de l'athéisme et de l'immoralisme du marquis de Sade George B. Watts, Charles Joseph Panckoucke, 'l'Atlas de la librairie française'

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsDouglas A. Bonneville, Candide as symbolic experience Theodore Besterman, A Preliminary bibliography of Portuguese translations of Voltaire Colin Duckworth, Madame Denis's unpublished Pamela: a link between Richardson, Goldoni and Voltaire Maija B. May, Comte d'Argental: a magistrate in the literary world Theodore E. D. Braun, Le Franc de Pompignan et la moralité du théâtre John Renwick, Jean François Marmontel: the formative years 1753-1765 Eve Katz, Marmontel and the voice of experience

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