The early modern period is arguably the most pivotal of all in the study of the mind, teeming with a variety of conceptions of mind. Some of these posed serious questions for assumptions about the nature of the mind, many of which still depended on notions of the soul and God. It is an era that witnessed the emergence of theories and arguments that continue to animate the study of philosophy of mind, such as dualism, vitalism, materialism, and idealism.

Covering pivotal figures in philosophy such as Descartes, Hobbes, Kant, Leibniz, Cavendish, and Spinoza, Philosophy of Mind in the Early Modern and Modern Ages provides an outstanding survey of philosophy of mind of the period. Following an introduction by Rebecca Copenhaver, sixteen specially commissioned chapters by an international team of contributors discuss key topics, thinkers, and debates, including:

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• Hobbes,
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• Descartes' philosophy of mind and its early critics,
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• consciousness,
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• the later Cartesians,
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• Malebranche,
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• Cavendish,
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• Locke,
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• Spinoza,
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• Descartes and Leibniz,
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• perception and sensation,
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• desires,
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• mental substance and mental activity,
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• Hume, and
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• Kant.
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Essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy of mind, enlightenment philosophy, and the history of philosophy, Philosophy of Mind in the Early Modern and Modern Ages is also a valuable resource for those in related disciplines such as religion, history of psychology, and history of science.

About the Author

Rebecca Copenhaver is Professor of Philosophy at Lewis and Clark College, USA. Her work has appeared in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Res Philosophica, Philosophical Quarterly, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, History of Philosophy Quarterly, Journal for the History of Philosophy, British Journal for the History of Philosophy and The Oxford Handbook of British Philosophy in the Eighteenth Century. Copenhaver is the editor of the Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-century Philosophy section of the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Reviews

Praise for The History of the Philosophy of Mind:

'A monumental resource for anyone interested in the human mind and the history of philosophical attempts to understand it. Students who consult these volumes will appreciate the multiple branching paths that connect past philosophical writings to those of the present. The juxtapositions of topics and historical figures in each volume can help researchers in contemporary philosophy of mind identify precedents for contemporary positions.' - Susanna Siegel, Harvard University, USA

'This six-volume history of the philosophy of mind is a compendious tour-de-force, tracing the sources of modern problems to a vibrant philosophical conversation ranging from antiquity to the present day. This is a special and uniquely wide-ranging resource for anyone, from the novice to the expert, with an interest in the nature of mind and its faculties, as well as its relation to the body and the physical world.' - Samuel Rickless, University of California San Diego, USA

'These six volumes constitute an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of mind and the history of philosophy - as well as metaphysics, psychology, and cognitive science - and I recommend them, with great enthusiasm, to all. Together they illuminate areas of inquiry that may be unfamiliar to contemporary philosophers of mind, and reveal unappreciated subtleties and continuities in theories of mind throughout the history of philosophy.' - Janet Levin, University of Southern California, USA

'A comprehensive and illuminating guide to the history of Western theories of the mind, ranging over every aspect of the enduring philosophical debate, from consciousness to perception, and from will to the passions. These volumes collectively offer a state-of-the-art presentation of the field.' - Robert Pasnau, University of Colorado Boulder, USA

Book Information
ISBN 9780367734114
Author Rebecca Copenhaver
Format Paperback
Page Count 390
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 553g