Leibniz's New Essays Concerning the Human Understanding: A Critical Exposition

Name: Leibniz's New Essays Concerning the Human Understanding: A Critical Exposition
Author: John Dewey

By John Dewey

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About This Book

The author provides a systematic, critical exposition of an extended reply by Leibniz to empiricism, beginning with biographical and historical context and then analyzing his responses to Locke and the development of his metaphysical system. Chapters reconstruct doctrines of monads and pre-established harmony, accounts of sensation and unconscious perception, views on will and moral freedom, the relation of matter and spirit, the reality of material phenomena, conceptions of space, time, substance, and infinity, epistemological distinctions among intuitive, demonstrative, and sensitive knowledge, and theological arguments for God, concluding with criticisms of Leibniz’s limitations and suggested corrections.

About the Author

John Dewey

John Dewey (1859-1952) was an influential American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer associated with pragmatism and functional psychology. He is best known for his work in education, particularly his book "Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education," which emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and critical thinking in the educational process. Dewey's ideas have significantly shaped modern educational practices and theories, advocating for a more interactive and democratic approach to teaching. In addition to his contributions to education, he wrote extensively on ethics, logic, and social philosophy, making him a key figure in American intellectual history.