Learning from Six Philosophers, Vol 2: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume

by Jonathan Francis Bennett

Jonathan Bennett engages with the thought of six great thinkers of the early modern Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. While not neglecting the historical setting of each, his chief focus is on the words they wrote. What problem is being tackled? How exactly is the solution meant to work? Does it succeed? If not, why not? What can be learned from its success or failure? For newcomers to the early modern scene, this clearly written work is an excellent introduction to it. Those already in the know can learn how to argue with the great philosophers of the past, treating them as colleagues, antagonists, students, teachers. In this second volume, Bennett focuses on the work of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.

Genres: Philosophy

375 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2001

Reviews

[Karl Georg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett's account of the thought of six early modern philosophers is very different from most books by or about philosophers. Neither does it lay out a specific doctrine, nor is it intended to give full overviews of the doctrines by the authors covered. Instead, Bennett gives very brief sketches of the overall situation, and then jumps right in and starts battling with each authors thoughts in a very detailed way, uncompromisingly taking them on not as historical curiosities, but as if they were thinking about some pretty deep stuff today. An intense read.