René Descartes was a central figure in the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. In his Discourse on Method he outlined the contrast between mathematics and experimental sciences, and the extent to which each one can achieve certainty. Drawing on his own work in geometry, optics, astronomy and physiology, Descartes developed the hypothetical method that characterizes modern science, and this soon came to replace the traditional techniques derived from Aristotle. Many of Descart...

This meticulously edited collection has been formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: Introduction: The Life and Work of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Books: The Phenomenology of Mind The Science of Logic The Philosophy of Mind The Philosophy of Right The Philosophy of Law The Philosophy of Fine Art Lectures on the Philosophy of History Lectures on the History of Philosophy Lectures on the Proofs of the Existence of God The Criticism of Hegel's Work and ...

In "A Guide to Stoicism," St. George William Joseph Stock provides a comprehensive exploration of Stoic philosophy, deftly merging historical analysis with practical application. The book serves as an accessible introduction to the principles laid down by ancient Stoics such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Stock's clear prose invites readers to navigate complex ideas through a structured format, which includes thematic discussions on virtue, reason, and emotional resilience. Set...

The father of modern western philosophy, René Descartes formulated the first modern version of mind-body dualism, promoting the development of a new science grounded in observation and experiment. Applying an original system of methodical doubt, he dismissed apparent knowledge derived from the senses and reason, establishing a new epistemic foundation on the basis of intuition, expressed in the dictum: “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum). This comprehensive eBook presents ...

The works of German thinker Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel represent the apex of German classical philosophy. It was Hegel who pounded out the dialectical methodology that shaped the doctrine of idealism into a fully formed and deeply thought-out philosophical system. For many philosophical contemporaries, the name Hegel is synonymous with the word philosopher. Friedrich Nietzsche once boldly stated that "Hegel is taste," and, speaking of Hegel, the thinker Vladimir Solovyov remarked: "of a...

“The truth is hypothetical.”Scepticism (or skepticism), the belief that requires all information to be well supported by evidence, originated in the Skeptikoi, a first century BC Greek school who “asserted nothing.” The school was founded by Aenesidemus; our main source of the school’s teachings is Sextus Empiricus and the leader of the Sceptics was Pyrrho of Elis (365-275 BC) who had traveled to India and studied with the gymnosophists (naked lovers of wisdom). From India, Pyrrho ...

Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is a philosophical work written by the Scottish philosopher David Hume. Through dialogue, three fictional characters named Demea, Philo, and Cleanthes debate the nature of God's existence. While all three agree that a god exists, they differ sharply in opinion on God's nature or attributes and how, or if, humankind can come to knowledge of a deity.In the Dialogues, Hume's characters debate a number of arguments for the existence of God, and arguments w...

In the posthumously published Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, the Enlightenment philosopher David Hume attacked many of the traditional arguments for the existence of God, expressing the belief that religion is founded on ignorance and irrational fears. Though calm and courteous in tone - at times even tactfully ambiguous - the conversations between Hume's vividly realized fictional figures form perhaps the most searching case ever mounted against orthodox Christian theological thin...

In "Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism," Mary Mills Patrick deftly navigates the intricate landscape of ancient skepticism, illuminating the contributions of Sextus Empiricus, a pivotal figure in the development of skeptical philosophy. Patrick's literary style is both scholarly and accessible, weaving together the historical context of Sextus's works with a clear exposition of the philosophical debates of his time. She meticulously examines Sextus's arguments against dogmatism, dissect...

Probably the most popular of the Essays in this book will prove to be the one on TRUTH and FALSITY. It is an epistemological rhapsody on the relativity of truth, on “Appearance and Reality,” on “perceptual flux” versus—“conceptual conceit.”—from this book

The Enlightenment thinker asserts that mental tranquility is achieved through knowledge of God in this brief philosophical treatise.Seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza was one of the most original and important thinkers of his time. His magnum opus, Ethics, influenced generations of great minds from Karl Marx to Ludwig Wittgenstein and George Santayana. In this earlier work, Spinoza articulates his view that life is best lived with the supreme h...

An introduction to Epicurus' Canon of Truth, the theory of knowledge that underlies Epicureanism. This work collects the remaining ancient sources and sets forth the foundation on which Epicurus erected his philosophy of happy living.