Condillac: Essay on the Origin of Human Knowledge

Condillac: Essay on the Origin of Human Knowledge
Author: Etienne Bonnot De Condillac
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2001-09-06
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9780521584678

Condillac's Essay on the Origin of Human Knowledge, first published in French in 1746 and offered here in a new translation, represented in its time a radical departure from the dominant conception of the mind as a reservoir of innately given ideas. Descartes had held that knowledge must rest on ideas; Condillac turned this upside down by arguing that speech and words are the origin of mental life and knowledge. His work influenced many later philosophers, and also anticipated Wittgenstein's view of language and its relation to mind and thought.

Hamlet's Mill

Hamlet's Mill
Author: Giorgio De Santillana
Publisher: Gambit, Incorporated, Publishers
Total Pages: 586
Release: 1969
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

The Cambridge Companion to Locke's 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding'

The Cambridge Companion to Locke's 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding'
Author: Lex Newman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 18
Release: 2007-03-05
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1139827235

First published in 1689, John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding is widely recognised as among the greatest works in the history of Western philosophy. The Essay puts forward a systematic empiricist theory of mind, detailing how all ideas and knowledge arise from sense experience. Locke was trained in mechanical philosophy and he crafted his account to be consistent with the best natural science of his day. The Essay was highly influential and its rendering of empiricism would become the standard for subsequent theorists. This Companion volume includes fifteen new essays from leading scholars. Covering the major themes of Locke's work, they explain his views while situating the ideas in the historical context of Locke's day and often clarifying their relationship to ongoing work in philosophy. Pitched to advanced undergraduates and graduate students, it is ideal for use in courses on early modern philosophy, British empiricism and John Locke.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Author: David Hume
Publisher: Standard Ebooks
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2024-09-09T19:27:34Z
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

A foundational text in empiricism and skepticism, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding comprehensively examines the nature of human cognition, the limits of human knowledge, and the role of reason in understanding the world. Hume argues that our understanding of the world is based on custom, habit, and experience, rather than pure reason or innate knowledge. He challenges the notions of causality, induction, and the concepts of connections between cause and effect, arguing that our understanding of these relationships is based on probability and custom. It lays the groundwork for modern philosophy, emphasizing the importance of empirical evidence and the role of human psychology in shaping our beliefs and understanding of reality. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

Of the Abuse of Words

Of the Abuse of Words
Author: John Locke
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 107
Release: 2009-08-27
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0141956577

John Locke was one of the greatest figures of the Enlightenment, whose assertion that reason is the key to knowledge changed the face of philosophy. These writings on thought, ideas, perception, truth and language are some of the most influential in the history of Western thought. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact

Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact
Author: Steven J. Dick
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 395
Release: 2018-05-03
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 110842676X

Examines humanistic aspects of astrobiology, exploring approaches, critical issues, and implications of the discovery of extraterrestrial life.