Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources [Paperback]

Roger Ariew (Author, Editor), Eric Watkins (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872204405 | ISBN-13: 978-0872204409 | Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Edition: First Edition

This new anthology offers the key works of seven major philosophers along with a rich selection of associated texts by other leading thinkers of the period chosen to enhance the reader's understanding of modern philosophy and its relationship to the natural science of the time. A brief general introduction describes the intellectual climate in which the works to follow were conceived. Short chapter introductions give pertinent details about specific philosophers and their works. Texts are provided in their entirety or in substantive selections, including a new abridgement of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason commissioned especially for this volume. Alternatives to the 'main' texts -- for example, Kant's Prolegomena is also included -- give instructors flexibility while providing students with the best translations of the primary source materials at an eminently reasonable price. Roger Ariew is Professor of Philosophy and Eric Watkins is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins, Editors

Product Details

• Paperback: 968 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co; First Edition edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872204405
• ISBN-13: 978-0872204409
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great excerpts, good format, good reading., June 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Paperback)

Modern Philosophy -- full of writings from philosophers such as Locke, Kant or Spinoza -- can be seen as a daunting period of philosophy. I read this book as a text for a modern philosophy class, and found that it is a very competant editing of these difficult texts. The anthology begins with "premodern" writings of Galileo and others, goes through Descartes (with a selection of criticisms of Decartes' work from his contemporaries), and then goes through the work of other modern philosophers such as Locke, Berkeley, Spinoza, Libeniz, Kant, and others. The editor does a wonderful job arranging texts to illustrate the back and forth dialog and critisms among the philosophers. In addition to the selection of texts, there are wonderful notes scattered throughout the text to help alleviate much of the confusion that can arise after reading some of the quite lengthly writings of some (many! ) modern philosophers. Perhaps on an aesthetic (non-content) sidenote -- the book itself is excellent. When I was reading a section, I did not have to worry about pages flipping on me, because the binding is very flexible. In addition highlighters don't bleed through the page -- a wonderful plus to a great anthology! I would highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource:, December 24, 2008

By 

RE&RP "SNJ" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Paperback)

I found Ariew's anthology of modern philosophical texts to be very helpful. The compliation of various philosophers is concise and well put together. One thing I would comment on is the binding of the book, I wish the book was made in such a way that it was easier to preserve. However, the content included does justice to the beauty of modern philosophy (albeit some major texts from Spinoza's Ethics were excluded). It is a fantastic read that includes major actors in modern philosophy whos ideas acted more as stimuli to the major philosophers of the era-thus Bacon, Galileo, and Newton affecting philosophers such as Descartes Hobbes, Leibniz, Hume and Kant. I would suggest this as a beginners anthology to those interested in the history and development of philosophy in the modern era.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and inexpensive anthology, May 13, 2008

By 

R W Cupp (NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Paperback)

I used this anthology in the late 1990's for a course I was teaching in the history of modern philosophy. I will be teaching the same course in the Spring of 2009 and I will be using the same textbook. It is comprehensive. And students will appreciate the fact that it is relatively inexpensive. Hackett does it again!