Early Modern Philosophers and the Renaissance Legacy

By: Cecilia Muratori and Gianni Paganini

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Synopsis: This book argues that an abrupt boundary should not divide Renaissance and Early Modern philosophies. Inside, 15 essays explore the transmission of theories through time. The contributors also examine how, in the process, philosophical systems become reinterpreted anew. Often, they acquire new shades of meaning and, even, become different ideas altogether. The essays discuss the question of whether Renaissance thinkers were philosophers in their own right or if they belonged to the history of literature and the arts. The authors also explore why scholars consider Renaissance thinkers separate from modern philosophers. In addition, the book details the legacy of Renaissance philosophers. It traces how later generations interacted with the texts these great minds left behind. Coverage includes the work of Henry More, Girolamo Cardano, Francis Bacon, Bernardino Telesio, René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, and others. In recent years, a conception of a long Renaissance has emerged. This view extends the end point of the period to include the whole first half of the 17th century. Yet, this sense of continuity usually just stresses the modernity of Renaissance thinkers. This insightful volume presents a deeper portrait. It highlights the Renaissance legacy in early modern thought. In the process, readers will discover new interpretations to this period's great philosophical theories.