The Oxford handbook of British philosophy in the seventeenth century /

This volume brings together 26 essays on 17th-century philosophy composed in the British Isles. Following an interesting opening section on local cultivation of philosophy during the period, the essays appear in four additional groups: "Natural Philosophy and the Philosophy of Nature," "Knowledge and Human Understanding," "Moral Philosophy," and "Political Philosophy." The collection is heavily weighted towards natural philosophers and issues in philosophy of nature. In addition to essays on Bacon, Boyle, Newton, and Cartesianism, readers will find essays on mathematics and scientific method. Essays on metaphysical subjects, such as the natures of substance, body, soul, material qualities, and generation, are framed primarily in the context of philosophy of nature and science. Essays on epistemological subjects likewise skew towards concerns in natural philosophy. This emphasis is not a bad thing. It provides helpful overlapping treatment of major issues and figures. The sections on moral and political philosophy are less extensive, but the essays are solid and reliable. The bibliographies following each essay are excellent. Those looking for extensive discussions of interesting minor figures or philosophical theology or philosophy of language will be disappointed. However, what this volume covers it does well. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty. D. C. Kolb St. Meinrad Archabbey Library