Ebook: A History of Western Philosophy, Volume 2: Modern and Postmodern: From Descartes to Derrida

In A History of Philosophy by Frederick Copleston, he makes an interesting observation as philosophical thought proceeds from the Ancient and Medieval times into the period of the modern philosophers. This transition begins around the mid 1400’s. He notes that the ancient philosophers were more aesthetic, concerning themselves with the surrounding beauty, where they based their viewpoints primarily upon the world around them. However, the thinkers in the Middle Ages did consider the theological aspects associated with philosophy. When considering the beauty and goodness surrounding them, they reasoned as such and considered the ‘first cause’ of these events. Their reasoning regarding these first causes provided a link in the mind as to the true nature of things. Faith in ‘what ought to be’ reigned supreme in the medieval mind. This faith was solidified even more when divinely revealed truth was found. Therefore, these thinkers saw philosophy as a handmaiden to theology. As the modern era begins, philosophers began to focus more on a scientific plain in his search for truth. One of the results of this particular focus is that it becomes more individualized, but yet at the same time, and as the means for disseminating correspondence increases, these finding become more international. As, such, no two great thinkers of this era agreed fully regarding the important issues—each researcher examined his own evidence drawing his own conclusion. The modern scientist demonstrated probable truths based on empirical observations. Their reporting was confined to the facts that they had discovered. They did not regard science as the mere accumulation of data. They also were interested in explaining their findings. The entire focus of modern philosophical thought was to uncover those truths that were consistently held in the past, arrived in their time, and could carry them onto into future thought. However, these truths are encapsulated in a historical setting. The study of the history of philosophy is governed by rules of interpretation which comes into play when evaluations are made. Every philosophical method must be able to prove its worth by being able to evaluate other ideas. Using this format, the history of philosophy investigates the other philosophies to see how their conclusions stand up. The result of the investigation is to discover how to set aside errors.

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In A History of Philosophy by Frederick Copleston, he makes an interesting observation as philosophical thought proceeds from the Ancient and Medieval times into the period of the modern philosophers. This transition begins around the mid 1400’s. He notes that the ancient philosophers were more aesthetic, concerning themselves with the surrounding beauty, where they based their viewpoints primarily upon the world around them. However, the thinkers in the Middle Ages did consider the theological aspects associated with philosophy. When considering the beauty and goodness surrounding them, they reasoned as such and considered the ‘first cause’ of these events. Their reasoning regarding these first causes provided a link in the mind as to the true nature of things. Faith in ‘what ought to be’ reigned supreme in the medieval mind. This faith was solidified even more when divinely revealed truth was found. Therefore, these thinkers saw philosophy as a handmaiden to theology. As the modern era begins, philosophers began to focus more on a scientific plain in his search for truth. One of the results of this particular focus is that it becomes more individualized, but yet at the same time, and as the means for disseminating correspondence increases, these finding become more international. As, such, no two great thinkers of this era agreed fully regarding the important issues—each researcher examined his own evidence drawing his own conclusion. The modern scientist demonstrated probable truths based on empirical observations. Their reporting was confined to the facts that they had discovered. They did not regard science as the mere accumulation of data. They also were interested in explaining their findings. The entire focus of modern philosophical thought was to uncover those truths that were consistently held in the past, arrived in their time, and could carry them onto into future thought. However, these truths are encapsulated in a historical setting. The study of the history of philosophy is governed by rules of interpretation which comes into play when evaluations are made. Every philosophical method must be able to prove its worth by being able to evaluate other ideas. Using this format, the history of philosophy investigates the other philosophies to see how their conclusions stand up. The result of the investigation is to discover how to set aside errors.

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The term philosophy originally meant the love of wisdom. Eventually, it became the name given to the inquiry into the first principles and causes of things from the standpoint of human reason. Therefore, there are many reasons for studying philosophy—it is the history of thought. First of all, one can see farther when standing on the shoulders of giants. The great philosophers of antiquity are truly the intellectual giants bridging the abyss between the past and the present. Unfortunately, the thoughts of the earlier thinkers were often conflicting and occasionally incorrect. Nevertheless, we can often learn from the errors of these great minds. There is a lot of truth to be learned from a significant error. What is more, great minds produce great thoughts, and great thoughts are worth thinking again. Our mind is enriched by following in the intellectual footsteps of those that have gone before us. Philosophy provides a basis of thought in virtually every other discipline. For example, one cannot truly know science without understanding the philosophy of science. Nor can one know theology without understanding the philosophical principles that it is built upon. Your worldview is a philosophical construct. Because you view everything in the world through the lens of your worldview, you must thoroughly examine and completely understand the philosophical principles that frame this lens. Therefore, that with which we think, our worldview, is more important than that about which we think, our world; the former determines our comprehension of the latter. Philosophy is the basis upon which we build our thoughts about life. The basic areas of philosophy—logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics—unfold before us in the history of thought. Hence, an understanding of the history of philosophy brings with it an understanding of the diverse areas of philosophical thought. With the crucial knowledge of what the great minds before us have thought concerning the critical topics of life, we can better develop our own ideas about our world. From a religious point of view, all theological, biblical, and hermeneutical issues are rooted in philosophy and its presuppositions. Without a knowledge of the history of philosophy, we cannot properly understand and resolve these issues. Finally, the study of the history of thought is a worthy and rewarding enterprise all within itself. As Aristotle said, humans are rational animals. As such, we are capable of rational thought. On the other hand, ideas, important or petty, good or bad, have consequences. One need think only of men like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to confirm the effect of a single man’s ideas. In view of all these reasons, you, the reader, could not spend your intellectual efforts more profitably than in the study of the unfolding of the history of great ideas. We do not live in a vacuum, thus, we must not think in a vacuum. With the preparation of the thoughts of those that have gone before us, we can influence the thoughts of those that come after us. Welcome to the history of philosophy. Enter, and experience the power of thought at your fingertips.