The philosophy discussed in this volume covers a period of 350 years, from the middle of the 14th century to the early years of the 18th century: the birth of modern philosophy. The chief topics are Renaissance philosophy and 17th century rationalism - in particular Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz. The volume does not deal with these movements exclusively, but places them within a wider intellectual context. It considers the scholastic thought with which Renaissance philosophy interacted; it also considers the thought of 17th century philosophers such as Bacon, Hobbes and Gassendi, who were...