Roger Ariew - Böcker

René Descartes: The Complete Correspondence in English Translation is the first complete English translation of the extant correspondence of the polymath René Descartes, who excelled in all areas of philosophy, the sciences, and mathematics. The translation is based on the best available editions, modified by several other sources. It is accompanied by an editorial apparatus consisting of cross-references and brief biographies of the correspondents. Descartes' correspondence elaborates his views, providing a crucial resource for students, teachers, and scholars in philosophy, history of philosophy, and history of science and mathematics.Volume I presents correspondence from the period 1619 to 1638. The letters begin with exchanges between Descartes and the physico-mathematician Isaac Beeckman, the essayist Guez de Balzac, the lens maker Jean Ferrier, and Descartes' future primary correspondent Marin Mersenne. It includes letters to high ranking Oratorians. One can also see the beginnings of Descartes' relations with Constantijn Huygens, who will be Descartes' other chief correspondent. One can also trace the developments of Descartes' early unpublished works on metaphysics, physics, and human biology, together with his reaction to the condemnation of Galileo by the Catholic Church. The letters show developments in Descartes' construction and publication of the Discourse on Method, together with the essays Dioptrics, Meteors, and Geometry. This results in an explosion of letters from and to various critics such as the professor of medicine Vopiscus Fortunatus Plemp, the astrologer Jean Baptiste Morin, the mathematicians Pierre Petit, Gilles Personne de Roberval, Pierre de Fermat, and many others.

Descartes and the First Cartesians adopts the perspective that we should not approach René Descartes as a solitary thinker, but as a philosopher who constructs a dialogue with his contemporaries, so as to engage them and elements of his society into his philosophical enterprise. Roger Ariew argues that an important aspect of this engagement concerns the endeavor to establish Cartesian philosophy in the Schools, that is, to replace Aristotle as the authority there. Descartes wrote the Principles of Philosophy as something of a rival to Scholastic textbooks, initially conceiving the project as a comparison of his philosophy and that of the Scholastics. Still, what Descartes produced was inadequate for the task. The topics of Scholastic textbooks ranged more broadly than those of Descartes; they usually had quadripartite arrangements mirroring the structure of the collegiate curriculum, divided as they typically were into logic, ethics, physics, and metaphysics. But Descartes produced at best only what could be called a general metaphysics and a partial physics. These deficiencies in the Cartesian program and in its aspiration to replace Scholastic philosophy in the schools caused the Cartesians to rush in to fill the voids. The attempt to publish a Cartesian textbook that would mirror what was taught in the schools began in the 1650s with Jacques Du Roure and culminated in the 1690s with Pierre-Sylvain Régis and Antoine Le Grand. Ariew's original account thus considers the reception of Descartes' work, and establishes the significance of his philosophical enterprise in relation to the textbooks of the first Cartesians and in contrast with late Scholastic textbooks.

No single text could be considered more important in the history of philosophy than Descartes' Meditations. This unique collection of background material to this magisterial philosophical text has been translated from the original French and Latin. The texts gathered here illustrate the kinds of principles, assumptions, and philosophical methods that were commonplace when Descartes was growing up. The selections are from: Francisco Sanches, Christopher Clavius, Pierre de la Ramee (Petrus Ramus), Francisco Suárez, Pierre Charron, Eustachius a Sancto Paulo, Scipion Dupleix, Marin Mersenne, Pierre Gassendi, Jean de Silhon, François de la Mothe le Vayer, Charles Sorel, and Jean-Baptiste Morin.

No single text could be considered more important in the history of philosophy than Descartes' Meditations. This unique collection of background material to this magisterial philosophical text has been translated from the original French and Latin. The texts gathered here illustrate the kinds of principles, assumptions, and philosophical methods that were commonplace when Descartes was growing up. The selections are from: Francisco Sanches, Christopher Clavius, Pierre de la Ramee (Petrus Ramus), Francisco Suárez, Pierre Charron, Eustachius a Sancto Paulo, Scipion Dupleix, Marin Mersenne, Pierre Gassendi, Jean de Silhon, François de la Mothe le Vayer, Charles Sorel, and Jean-Baptiste Morin.

The A to Z of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy includes many entries on Descartes's writings, concepts, and findings. Since it is historical, there are other entries on those who supported him, those who criticized him, those who corrected him, and those who together formed one of the major movements in philosophy, Cartesianism. To better understand the period, the authors drew up a brief chronology, and to see how Descartes and Cartesianism fit into the general picture, they have written an introduction and a biography. Since everything cannot be summed up in one volume, a bibliography directs readers to numerous other sources on issues of particular interest.

This volume presents new work in history and historiography to the increasingly broad audience for studies of the history and philosophy of science. These essays are linked by a concern to understand the context of early modern science in its own context. The papers presented in this volume form four goups. The first two essays address historiographical questions concerning the role of institutions such as universities and scientific academies in the founding of modern science. Mordecahi Feingold substantially qualifies the thesis that universities were the centers of resistance to the new science. David Lux examines the pervasive influence of Martha Ornstein's work concerning 17th-century scientific societies. The second group of essays extends the range of historical studies into generally neglected areas of science. Harold Cook's essay provides an entry into a range of issues connecting medicine and other sciences. Roger Ariew's paper reminds us that astronomy and physics were by no means the exclusive interests of those now remembered as founders of modern physics. The third section of essays is in more traditional areas of interest to historicans and philosophers of science but offers distinctly novel conclusions. Alan Gabbey provides the first modern treatment of a central problem in heliocentric astronomy and cosmology - the nature of the moon's motion. Jospeh Pitt offers a unique picture of the relationship between Bellarmine and Galileo. Bernard Goldstein punctures one of the great myths of the Copernican revolution: Alfonso of Castile's supposed dissatisfaction with the Ptolemaic tradition. Finally, the last group presents papers on early modern mathematics. Francois de Gandt examines Cavalieri's mathematical practice during the period of the development of calculus. Emily Grosholz considers the mathematical practice of Descartes and demonstrates that Descartes' own mathematical ideals were an impediment to the full utilization of the mathematical resources exploited by his successors.

A superb text for teaching the philosophy of Descartes, this volume includes all his major works in their entirety, important selections from his lesser known writings, and key selections from his philosophical correspondence. The result is an anthology that enables the reader to understand the development of Descartes’s thought over his lifetime. Includes a biographical Introduction, chronology, bibliography, and index.

A superb text for teaching the philosophy of Descartes, this volume includes all his major works in their entirety, important selections from his lesser known writings, and key selections from his philosophical correspondence. The result is an anthology that enables the reader to understand the development of Descartes’s thought over his lifetime. Includes a biographical Introduction, chronology, bibliography, and index.

For this new edition, Roger Ariew has adapted Samuel Clarke's edition of 1717, modernizing it to reflect contemporary English usage. Ariew's introduction places the correspondence in historical context and discusses the vibrant philosophical climate of the times. Appendices provide those selections from the works of Newton that Clarke frequently refers to in the correspondence. A bibliography is also included.

For this new edition, Roger Ariew has adapted Samuel Clarke's edition of 1717, modernizing it to reflect contemporary English usage. Ariew's introduction places the correspondence in historical context and discusses the vibrant philosophical climate of the times. Appendices provide those selections from the works of Newton that Clarke frequently refers to in the correspondence. A bibliography is also included.

This anthology offers the key works of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume in their entirety or in substantial selections, along with a rich selection of associated texts by other leading thinkers of the period.

This anthology offers the key works of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz in their entirety or in substantial selections, along with a rich selection of associated texts by other leading thinkers of the period.

An interdisciplinary exploration of Pascal's philosophy across theology, science, and political thought Blaise Pascal has emerged as a central figure in early modern thought whose legacy transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. A Companion to Pascal addresses the growing scholarly need for an integrated perspective on his philosophy, bringing together essays by leading scholars that contextualize, analyze, and extend Pascal's work. It offers a wide-ranging and in-depth examination of Pascal's multifaceted intellectual contributions that enables readers to progressively build and apply knowledge across the disciplines Pascal influenced, ranging from theology and mathematics to epistemology and political philosophy. The Companion opens by situating Pascal within his intellectual milieu—his interactions with Augustinian theology, his responses to Montaigne and Descartes, and his involvement with the Port-Royal community. Parts II and III move into Pascal's technical contributions, including his foundational role in probability and physics and his unique epistemological stance. Subsequent sections examine Pascal's rhetorical strategies and religious commitments alongside his political and ethical views. The final part assesses Pascal's enduring influence, tracing his impact through figures such as Søren Kierkegaard, William James, and Pierre Duhem. A vital resource for those seeking an understanding of Pascal's philosophical outlook and enduring legacy, A Companion to Pascal: Presents a unique interdisciplinary approach to Pascal that spans philosophy, theology, science, literature, and political thoughtOffers new perspectives on Pascal's engagement with Descartes, Montaigne, and AugustineExplores lesser-known dimensions of Pascal's work, such as his influence on phenomenology and Marxist theoryAnalyzes the philosophical implications of Pascal's scientific and mathematical innovationsIncludes focused chapters on Pascal's Wager, logic, epistemology, and his views on grace and predestinationWith a comprehensive structure that allows both thematic and chronological exploration of Pascal's thought, A Companion to Pascal is ideal for advanced students and scholars in philosophy, theology, history of science, and French literature. It is particularly valuable for university-level courses in Early Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, and Intellectual History, and serves as an essential reference for academics, educators, and interdisciplinary researchers.

Descartes is perhaps most closely associated with the title, “the Father of Modern Philosophy.” Generations of students have been introduced to the study of philosophy through a consideration of his Meditations on First Philosophy. His contributions to natural science is shown by the fact that his physics, as promulgated by the Cartesians, played a central role in the debates after his death over Isaac Newton’s theory of gravitation. Descartes also made major contributions to the field of analytic geometry; we still speak today of “Cartesian coordinates” and the “Cartesian product.”This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy covers the history through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on various concepts in Descartes’ philosophy, science, and mathematics, as well as biographical entries about the intellectual setting for Descartes’ philosophy and its reception, both with Cartesians and anti-Cartesians. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Descartes.

The Historical Dictionary of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy, Third Edition, centers on Descartes’ philosophy (considered broadly to include his science and mathematics) in the context of 17th-century thought, with attention being paid to its reception. This is done through a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 400 cross-referenced entries on various concepts in Descartes’ philosophy, science, and mathematics, as well as biographical entries about the intellectual setting for Descartes’ philosophy and its reception, both with Cartesians and anti-Cartesians. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Descartes philosophy.

The most widely read anthology for the study of modern philosophy, this volume provides key works of philosophers and other leading thinkers of the period, chosen to enhance the reader’s understanding of modern philosophy and its relationship to the natural sciences of the time. The third edition incorporates important contributions of women and minority thinkers into the canon of the modern period, while retaining all of the material of the previous edition. Included are works by Princess Elisabeth, Margaret Cavendish Duchess of Newcastle, Lady Anne Conway, Anton Wilhelm Amo, Lady Damaris Masham, Lady Mary Shepherd, and Emilie Marquise Du Châtelet.