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Introduction. The complexity, the rapidity of changes and considerable uncertainty of further social development reinforce the requirements for an effective positive influence of philosophy on what is happening. In general, we are talking about the modern concretization – based on the method of dialectical unity of historical and logical – of the fundamental problem of the connection of philosophy and science with life and practice. Theoretical analysis. In the history of philosophy, two opposing traditions of solving the problem of the connection of philosophy with life are being formed. Practical-theoretical one is aimed at helping to solve the universal problems of real life (philosophy acquires political significance). Theoretical-practical tradition is focused on the purity of philosophical search, which provides universal truth practice. Conclusion. The permanence of changes and the real dangers of social development (the threat of becoming a post-outside-human reality) actualize the practical-theoretical position – practical philosophy. Practical philosophy should fully take into account the critical arguments of the opposite side (the danger of political distortion of the truth). In general, it is necessary to unite and activate the work of all practice-oriented forces of philosophy and science (humanitarian expertise, field philosophy, etc.). Professional, pedagogical access to the Internet for criticising post-truth and meaningful presence in the public arena is seen as an important direction of practical philosophy.

Cover -- Half Title -- Series -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- General Editor's Preface -- Introduction -- Notes -- References -- 1 Bacon -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Pars destruens: anticipations of nature and the idols of the mind -- 3. Pars construens: Bacon's prescriptions for new natural histories and the inductive natural philosophy -- 4. Concluding remarks -- Notes -- References -- 2 Gassendi and Hobbes -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Gassendi's attacks on the Aristotelians and on Descartes -- 3. Gassendi's middle way -- 4. Gassendi's two criteria -- 5. Certainty and probability -- 6. Hobbes and scepticism -- 7. Hobbes, perception, and 'the modern philosophy' -- 8. Knowledge and scientific knowledge -- Notes -- References -- 3 Descartes -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Dreaming and the embodied self -- 3. Passivity of mind -- 4. Activation and self-discovery -- 5. Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 4 Spinoza -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Predecessors -- 3. Adequacy, truth, and clarity and distinctness -- 4. Kinds of knowledge -- 5. Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 5 Malebranche -- 1. Introduction: was Malebranche a rationalist metaphysician? -- 2. Malebranche and Hume -- 3. The axioms of metaphysics -- 4. Malebranche's positive metaphysics 1: God and the soul -- 5. Malebranche's positive metaphysics 2: the world of bodies -- 6. Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 6 Leibniz -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Leibniz's theory of knowledge: the basics -- 3. Leibniz on substance -- 4. Determinism -- 5. Leibniz's 'rationalist empiricism' -- 6. Representation and anti-materialism -- 7. Knowledge and truth -- 8. Logic and the question of foundationalism -- 9. Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 7 Locke -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Background -- 3. Locke on principles -- 4. Locke on demonstration -- 5. Locke on the sciences -- Notes -- References -- 8 Hume.

Intro -- Contents -- 1: The Medieval Philosophers -- 2: The Birth of Modern Philosophy: The Renaissance Period -- 3: The British Empiricists: Locke, Berkeley, and Hume -- 4: Critical Philosophy: Immanuel Kant -- 5: Idealism and Materialism: Hegel and Marx -- Notes -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Further Reading -- Picture Credits -- Index -- About the Author.

"Provides students and general readers with a basic understanding of the central concepts, issues, and thinkers of the early modern era of philosophy. s there a world that exists apart from ourselves? If an external world exists, what is its nature? Can an external world based on evidence from our sense perception be known? How do such questions arise? Is it even possible for them to be answered? This is Modern Philosophy: An Introduction surveys how philosophers from the late sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century investigated central metaphysical and epistemological issues. Focusing on six key philosophers, this accessible volume provides readers with a solid and balanced appreciation of how philosophy was done in the Modern period. Each chapter explores the views of a particular thinker—René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, George Berkeley, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Lady Mary Shepherd—with special attention paid to their engagement with 'The Problem of the External World.' Throughout the book, readers are invited to consider related philosophical problems and doctrines, such as transcendental idealism, mind-body dualism, and skepticism"--