What defines the era of modern philosophy?

Modern philosophy encompasses Western philosophy developed between the 17th and the 20th centuries, closely associated with modernity. It is not a single doctrine or school, but shares common assumptions that separate it from earlier medieval philosophy. Influential figures from this timeframe include Descartes, Locke, Hume, and Kant.

What we know

• Modern philosophy is Western philosophy developed between the 17th and the 20th centuries. [1, 2]
• Early modern philosophy succeeded the medieval era and generally occurred between the 16th and 18th centuries. [5]
• Influential philosophers of the early modern period include Descartes, Locke, Hume, and Kant. [5]

Still open

• It is a matter of dispute how much of the Renaissance should be included and whether modernity ended in the 20th century to be replaced by postmodernity.

Where to go next

• a case in pointWho were the key thinkers of early modern philosophy?
• whenHow did medieval philosophy precede the modern era?
• the bigger pictureWhat is Western philosophy as a broader academic discipline?
• compared withHow does modernism differ from modern philosophy?
• how we knowWhat evidence did Bertrand Russell use in his history of philosophy?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a history of philosophy win a Nobel Prize?Bertrand Russell's commercial and critical success with his book A History of Western Philosophy was specifically cited when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950.

Sources

• [1]modern philosophy (Wikidata Q860746) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Modern philosophy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]A Short History of Modern Philosophy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]A History of Western Philosophy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Early modern philosophy · CC BY-SA 4.0