History of 17th Century Philosophy

History of 17th Century Philosophy

17th century philosophy is a philosophical trend that emerged based on the developments that arose with the influence of the Renaissance, in order to establish the foundations of the new age thought.

The thinkers of the 17th century, utilizing the intellectual developments and ambiguous conceptual contents presented by the Renaissance, sought to establish their philosophical formulas with complete solidity and precision, and with their works, they laid the foundation of systematic philosophy with a new depth. The principles and fundamental concepts of the Enlightenment era were largely prepared in 17th century philosophy.

The fragmented and diverse nature of thought in the Renaissance was directed towards being systematized and exemplified in certain philosophical trends and worldviews during this era. Descartes, Hobbes, Leibniz, and Spinoza are the most important figures of 17th century philosophy. Macit Gökberk argues that due to its unity and coherence, 17th century philosophy should not be compared to ancient or Renaissance philosophy, but rather be considered as a distinct era. He says that it resembles the philosophy of the age. The principle that provides this unity and closure is completely different from the Middle Ages, it is rationalism.[1]

In the 17th century, mathematics and physics are found at the source of rationalism. Thinkers of this period have a keen interest in mathematics and geometry. With the recorded developments, it has been concluded that nature can be understood with mathematical formulas or concepts; famous rationalism has been reached based on the idea of compatibility between nature and reason, matter and mind.

As a general tendency, rationalism in the 17th century will give rise to the trend called Cartesian philosophy and deeply influence Enlightenment philosophy. Dualist or monist rationalism models are at play in this century; however, it can be said that dualist arguments have a certain dominance in the main direction of the history of philosophy. The debates raised by Descartes have continued to the present day, especially his dualism. has received harsh criticisms.

The developments recorded in natural sciences have also had a decisive impact on the development of philosophy during this period. Among these, it is necessary to mention particularly the development called the Copernican Revolution, Giordano Bruno’s cosmic design, and the advancements in mechanics introduced by Galileo. Copernicus developed a system that would change an entire worldview. Its most fundamental result was to clearly demonstrate the fallibility of the human eye in the face of reality. It corrected the illusion that the Sun, Moon, and stars revolve around the Earth. Thus, it highlighted a profound inference that we know the perceived world, not the real world.

In addition, it invalidated the universal model of the universe, which was a general trend but particularly systematic in Christian teachings. Human-centrism became especially problematic. In this way, both the movements of the universe and nature acquired a holistic quality. The mechanical system established by Galileo, on the other hand, It is another phase of scientific advancement of the period. The law known as the law of duration states that an object will continue to move in a straight line unless acted upon by an opposing force. Later, Newton’s “law of universal gravitation” will be added to this, solidifying the concept of the universality of the laws of nature and the unity of the universe and nature.

These advancements have inevitably led to a change in teachings and significant alterations in theories of knowledge. The effects of these advancements and their new epistemological contributions can be seen in the philosophies of the 17th century. Furthermore, this impact will continue, playing a determining role in the Enlightenment thought and modern philosophies. The definitive advancements of mathematical and natural sciences have not only provided the idea that nature can be proven mathematically, but also given rise to rationalism among philosophers of the 17th century. In general, the philosophy of the 17th century is characterized by its precision, as if cutting with a knife. It is not easy to divide historical periods with strict boundaries, just as it is not possible to do the same for other periods. In a way, there are those who consider Francis Bacon and John Locke to belong to this period. However, it is possible to briefly mention and evaluate the main philosophers who have shaped the philosophy of the 17th century and directly influenced subsequent philosophical developments (along with many other thinkers who are less influential and recognized but still important in the development of thought), as follows.