Baroque Age - Baroque Outside Italy - Philosophy
3 important questions on Baroque Age - Baroque Outside Italy - Philosophy
Who was René Descartes?
- René Descartes (1595-1650) was a French philosopher.
- Called the Father of Modern Philosophy.
- Stated that the only certainty in life is that you exist as a doubting entity (Cogito, ergo sum).
- Explained God's existence, by our imperfect minds (that can't even trust our perceptions), that are still able to imagine a perfect God.
- If God din't exist, then he would be unimaginable.
Who was Thomas Hobbes?
- Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher.
- In his book Leviathan (1651) he defended monarchical rule.
- Humans are driven by a primal fear of death and the desire for power.
- Without government humankind simply self-destructs.
- Invented the 'social contract', where people choose to give up sovereignty, in return for a ruler to keep the peace.
- Opposed the idea of the divine right of kings.
Who was John Locke?
- John Locke (1632-1704), was an English philosopher.
- Argued at birth our mind is a 'tabula rasa' (blank slate) and has to be filled by observations and reason (two great fountains of knowledge).
- People accept government because they find it convenient, not because of an innate inclination to submission to authority.
- Locke's Two Treatises on Government (1690) were instrumental for inspiring both the American and French revolution.
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