Trace how modern philosophy grew from Plato and Aristotle through medieval thought to the great breakthroughs of Hume and Kant, shaping our view of knowledge, mind, and reality.
This history surveys the long rise of Western philosophy, showing how religious ideas, science, and new ways of thinking crossed paths. It covers how Plato and Aristotle were received in the Middle Ages, how printing and upheavals like the Reformation rewired ideas, and how thinkers of English origin helped redefine knowledge itself. The narrative moves toward the modern era, noting debates about perception, the self, and the nature of matter that still influence philosophy today.
- The clash and dialogue between Platonic and Aristotelian currents in scholastic thought
- The rise of idealism and its critique by Hume, Berkeley, and others
- How Copernican astronomy and new science transformed questions about the world and our place in it
- The late-19th and early-20th century turn toward pragmatism and Bergson’s metaphysics
Ideal for readers who want a clear panorama of how modern philosophy took shape and why it still matters.