E-raamat: Cavendish [Taylor & Francis e-raamat]

"Original, ingenuous, and heterodox the philosopher Margaret Cavendish (1661-1717) is one of the most important writers and thinkers of the seventeenth century. Almost entirely self-taught, as well as engaging deeply with the philosophical currents of her time she wrote on a rich array of topics including gender, science and manners. Her utopian novel, The Blazing World, is one of the earliest works of science fiction. In this outstanding introduction to Cavendish's philosophy Alison Peterman explores the full span of Cavendish's work. She begins by examining Cavendish's metaphysics, in particular her view that matter is divisible, sensitive and rational and that the only kind of change is motion, contrasting Cavendish's approach with that of other 'mechanical' philosophers Descartes, Hobbes, Boyle and Gassendi. Peterman then assesses Cavendish's arguments concerning order and causation in nature, particularly her view that order can only be explained if nature is whole and that matter has 'sense' and 'reason', before turning to her theory of the human mind and perception, knowledge and scientific method. Finally, she explains and assesses Cavendish's ethics and politics, returning to her distinction between the natural and artificial and how her moral and political views are evident in her poetry, fiction, plays and other literary writings. Including a chronology, glossary of key terms, and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter, Cavendish is an ideal starting point for anyone comingto Cavendish's philosophy for the first time. It will also be of great interest to those studying seventeenth century philosophy, metaphysics, the history and philosophy of science, and women philosophers in early modern philosophy"--

Dazzlingly original but deeply engaged with the philosophical currents of her time, Margaret Cavendish (1623–1673) was one of the most ingenious and exciting philosophers of the seventeenth century. In Cavendish, Alison Peterman provides a systematic reading of Cavendish’s natural philosophy. While highlighting interpretations of Cavendish that present her as an anthropomorphic thinker, Peterman advocates instead for reading Cavendish in light of her naturalism, materialism, and anti-anthropocentrism, explaining how these themes ramify in Cavendish’s metaphysics, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and method. Cavendish articulates and explains what is novel and heterodox in Cavendish’s views, and also examines her philosophical engagement with other seventeenth-century thinkers like Hobbes, Boyle, Descartes, and Hooke.

An outstanding introduction for newcomers to Cavendish, Cavendish is essential reading for students and scholars of Cavendish as well as those taking courses in seventeenth-century philosophy, metaphysics, history of science, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and philosophical methodology.

This outstanding introduction to Cavendish's philosophy explores the full span of her work. Including a chronology, glossary, and suggestions for further reading, Cavendish is an ideal starting point for anyone coming to Cavendish’s philosophy for the first time.