Richard Kennington (1921-1999), a professor for many years at Pennsylvania State University and the Catholic University of America, was renowned for his insight in reading and teaching early modern philosophy. Although he published articles and spoke widely, never before have his writings been collected in a book. On Modern Origins deftly shows how modern thinkers assessed the errors of the classical tradition and established in its place a philosophy that fuses a new meaning of nature and of theory with humanitarian goals. This volume is an essential source for scholars seeking to understand the contemporary significance of the dawning of the modern era.

By Richard Kennington - Edited by Pamela Kraus and Frank Hunt

Chapter 1 Bacon's Reform of Nature Chapter 2 Bacon's Critique of Ancient Philosophy in New Organon 1 Chapter 3 Bacon's Ontology Chapter 4 Bacon's Humanitarian Revision of Machiavelli Chapter 5 Descartes's Olympica Chapter 6 Descartes's Discourse on Method Chapter 7 Descartes and Mastery of Nature Chapter 8 The Finitude of Descartes's Evil Genius Chapter 9 Cartesian Rationalism and Eternal Truths Chapter 10 The "Teaching of Nature" in Descartes's Soul Doctrine Chapter 11 René Descartes Chapter 12 Analytic and Synthetic Methods in Spinoza's Ethics Chapter 13 On the Intention of Leibniz Chapter 14 Nature and Natural Right in Locke