Descartes (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from Descartes

There are others who think that all these are not so important as the reform in philosophy, the reform in the ways and methods of human thought, which abolished scholastic subtleties and disputes, and substituted for the authority Of Thomas Aquinas and of Aristotle the guidance of sober deduction and scientific experiment. Mr Mill, indeed, asserted that revolutions in philosophy have generally preceded and indicated great improve ments in the social and political wellbeing of mankind. This is doubtless often the case. But it is not clear that in the series of revolutions which changed me dieval into modern Europe, philosophy led the van. There were no doubt hints here and there, there were no doubt abortive attempts, such as those of Giordano Bruno, Vanini, Campanella, and others, to reform and renew philosophy. But these attempts are now sought out only by the curious historian, who is perhaps jealous of individual fame, and desires to Show that nothing comes suddenly in history. Even if they really anticipated the great regeneration, they did not impress it upon the world and hence it is strictly true that in philosophy the turning-point does not come till the early part of the seventeenth century, and dates strictly from the publication Of the Discourse on Method in 1637.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Descartes

§ 1. One of the most interesting epochs in the world's history is that of the transition from medieval to modern Europe. The breaking up of the old; the violent birth of the new; the sturdy defence of the established order; the confident invasion of strange ideas and novel methods, - all this, shown in great political, religious, scientific, and moral questions, is a spectacle ever absorbing in its interest, and ever instructive to the student of mankind. But according as various observers approach it from various sides, they see various turning-points, which by each are proclaimed the mark of the close of medieval history. To some the rise of the secular spirit in the Italian Renaissance, to others the assertion of the responsibility of individual conscience by the Reformation in Germany, is the dawn of modern history.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.