Changes

in the West is generally regarded as seeing the start of modern philosophy, and the shaking off of the medieval approach, especially [[scholasticism]]. It is often called the "Age of Reason" and is considered to succeed the [[Renaissance]] and precede the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. Alternatively, it may be seen as the earlier part of the Enlightenment.

in the West is generally regarded as seeing the start of modern philosophy, and the shaking off of the medieval approach, especially [[scholasticism]]. It is often called the "Age of Reason" and is considered to succeed the [[Renaissance]] and precede the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. Alternatively, it may be seen as the earlier part of the Enlightenment.

==Europe==

===Europe===

In [[Western Philosophy]], the period is usually taken to start in the seventeenth century with the work of [[René Descartes]], who set much of the agenda as well as much of the methodology for those who came after him.  The period is typified in Europe by the great system-builders —  philosophers who present unified systems of [[epistemology]], [[metaphysics]], [[logic]], and [[ethics]], and often [[politics]] and the physical sciences too.

In [[Western Philosophy]], the period is usually taken to start in the seventeenth century with the work of [[René Descartes]], who set much of the agenda as well as much of the methodology for those who came after him.  The period is typified in Europe by the great system-builders —  philosophers who present unified systems of [[epistemology]], [[metaphysics]], [[logic]], and [[ethics]], and often [[politics]] and the physical sciences too.

[[Immanuel Kant]] classified his predecessors into two schools: the [[Rationalism|Rationalists]] and the [[Empiricism|Empiricists]]<ref>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/k/kantmeta.htm#H1 Historical Background of Kent]</ref>, and Early Modern Philosophy (as seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy is known) is often characterised in terms of a supposed conflict between these schools.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  This division is a considerable oversimplification, and it is important to be aware that the philosophers involved did not think of themselves as belonging to these schools, but as being involved in a single philosophical enterprise.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

[[Immanuel Kant]] classified his predecessors into two schools: the [[Rationalism|Rationalists]] and the [[Empiricism|Empiricists]]<ref>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/k/kantmeta.htm#H1 Historical Background of Kent]</ref>, and Early Modern Philosophy (as seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy is known) is often characterised in terms of a supposed conflict between these schools.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  This division is a considerable oversimplification, and it is important to be aware that the philosophers involved did not think of themselves as belonging to these schools, but as being involved in a single philosophical enterprise.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

The seventeenth century in Europe saw the culmination of the slow process of detachment of philosophy from [[theology]].  Thus, while philosophers still talked about &ndash; and even offered arguments for the existence of &ndash; a [[deity]], this was done in the service of philosophical argument and thought.  (In the [[The Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], the ''Age of Reason'', [[18th century|18th-century]] philosophy was to go still further, leaving theology and [[religion]] behind altogether.)

The seventeenth century in Europe saw the culmination of the slow process of detachment of philosophy from [[theology]].  Thus, while philosophers still talked about &ndash; and even offered arguments for the existence of &ndash; a [[deity]], this was done in the service of philosophical argument and thought.  (In the [[The Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], the ''Age of Reason'', [[18th century|18th-century]] philosophy was to go still further, leaving theology and [[religion]] behind altogether.)

==List of seventeenth century philosophers==

===List of seventeenth century philosophers===

* [[Mulla Sadra]] (1571&ndash;1640)

* [[Mulla Sadra]] (1571&ndash;1640)

==External links==

===External links===

* [http://www2.sas.ac.uk/ies/events/seminars/Emphasis/index.htm EMPHASIS: Early Modern Philosophy and the Scientific Imagination Seminar]

* [http://www2.sas.ac.uk/ies/events/seminars/Emphasis/index.htm EMPHASIS: Early Modern Philosophy and the Scientific Imagination Seminar]