France and the Netherlands

In the first series dedicated to early modern philosophy in Europe (17-18th centuries), we look at the closely linked traditions of French and Dutch thought in this period. Two major thinkers feature in our coverage of the 17th century, as we look at various aspects of the life and writings of Descartes and Spinoza and chart their influence across Europe. Other significant figures from this century include Gassendi, Pascal, Arnauld, Malebranche, Bayle, Grotius, and van Schurman. After an interlude on Italian and Spanish philosophy (including a look at Vanini, Vico, and Jewish and women authors of the time), we will turn to the eighteenth century, taking the story up to the eve of the French Revolution. The so-called "philosophes" like Montesquieu and Rousseau will of course feature, as will female authors including du Châtelet, de Grouchy, and figures who presided over salon culture. 

Major themes covered in this series include skepticism (including atheism), mechanist theories of nature and atomism, freedom, occasionalism, dualist theories of mind, the relation between God and world, and political issues like religious tolerance, economic theory, and republicanism. Numerous episodes will be devoted to the rise of modern science, mathematical ideas like probability, and new technologies like the microscope. In all this will be a wide-ranging and detailed look at one of the most celebrated periods in the history of European thought, with emphasis on figures and topics who are often overlooked. As always we'll be joined by many experts for occasional interviews adding depth to what has been discussed in the scripted episodes.

My thanks to Sebastian Bender, Julia Borcherding, Helen Hattab, Gideon Manning, Dominik Perler and numerous listeners here on the website for their advice on what to cover in this series!