Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes and the Rationalists
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Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes and the Rationalists
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Narrated by:
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James D. Reid
About this listen
From the 17th to 18th centuries, bold thinkers cast off the authority of ancient traditions and embraced reason as the primary tool for understanding the world. These rationalists, or early modern philosophers, included René Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz—visionaries whose answers to profound questions remain relevant today.
Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes and the Rationalists covers the key philosophers of this period in 12 fascinating half-hour lectures, presented by award-winning teacher James D. Reid, Professor of Philosophy at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
The rationalists addressed momentous questions such as: What can we know for certain? Are we truly free? Is there a God or a higher power? In addition to Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz, this course also covers Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, Lady Anne Conway, and Nicolas Malebranche, who each contributed unique perspectives on mind-body interaction, the nature of substance, and the role of God in human understanding.
It is no accident that early modern philosophy developed in tandem with the Scientific Revolution, spearheaded by Kepler and Galileo, among others. Together, the two movements laid the foundation for a fully modern world, guided by reason, systematic inquiry, empirical evidence, and a growing secular view of the universe that emphasizes human autonomy. As a result, taking this course is like witnessing the birth of the modern mind.
Professor Reid shows how the rationalists serve as a bridge between the Scholasticism of the late Middle Ages and philosophers of the 18th-century Enlightenment, including David Hume, Immanuel Kant, John Locke, and Voltaire. Their influence also extends to 19th and 20th centuries, with Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and other renowned thinkers.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 14
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 13
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Story5 out of 5 stars 13
For millennia, philosophers and scientists have been trying to unlock the secrets of the mind with only limited success—until now. Today, with modern technologies including the best in neuroscience, medical imaging, and recent advances in artificial intelligence, we are making more progress than ever before. In Introduction to Cognitive Science, Professor Thad A. Polk takes you on a fascinating tour of the latest discoveries in the relatively new field of cognitive science. In 24 exciting lectures, Professor Polk shares dozens of the most challenging questions in cognitive science today.
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4 out of 5 stars
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AI is over rated
- By hilda shurbaji on 01-19-25
By: Thad A. Polk, and others
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The Middle Ages Around the World
- By: Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joyce E. Salisbury
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 94
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 81
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 81
The Middle Ages was a time of major historical shifts and transformations. This amazing era reverberates with discoveries, innovations, events, and historical processes that are integral to the world we know now. In these 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Salisbury leads you on a sumptuous tour of this incredible historical epoch, making clear that the remarkable historical currents and advances of the Middle Ages unfolded not only in the West, but across the globe, from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to Asia, the Americas, and beyond.
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1 out of 5 stars
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A Rare Disappointment from The Great Courses
- By Curtis on 08-21-22
By: Joyce E. Salisbury, and others
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Books That Matter: Meditations
- By: Massimo Pigliucci, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Massimo Pigliucci
- Length: 6 hrs
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
What is it about Stoicism that Marcus found so important then, and that millions find relevant today? In the 12 fascinating lectures of Books That Matter: Meditations, professor Massimo Pigliucci explores the questions Marcus believed were crucial to address in a life of value, the answers he proposed, and the many ways in which you can use Stoic philosophy. While Meditations was originally written for an audience of just one, what Marcus wanted to examine certainly still applies to us today. What exactly should we be mindful of in this life?
By: Massimo Pigliucci, and others
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God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 10
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
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Story5 out of 5 stars 7
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Secrets of the Occult
- By: Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard B. Spence
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 172
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 135
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 135
From spirituality to politics and science, the occult has had an astonishing influence on the human experience across the centuries. It may surprise you to learn that everyday activities like attending church services or reading your daily horoscope all fit the broad definition of the occult. As you will see in the 24 illuminating episodes of Secrets of the Occult, the mystic and obscure are threaded through our ordinary lives in more ways than you may realize.
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5 out of 5 stars
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insightful and well-presented.
- By Robert H. on 12-14-22
By: Richard B. Spence, and others
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Ancient Writing and the History of the Alphabet
- By: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 102
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 76
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 76
Embark on a journey to the very beginning of writing as a tool of language and see how the many threads of history and linguistics came together to create the alphabet that forms the foundation of English writing. Your guide is Professor John McWhorter of Columbia University and in the 16 lectures of Ancient Writing and the History of the Alphabet, he will help you navigate the complex linguistic and cultural history behind one of our most crucial tools of communication.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Storytelling!
- By Jared M. Leitzel on 10-22-23
By: John McWhorter, and others
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Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,952
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,708
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,685
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist
- By V. Taras on 07-08-15
By: Randall Bartlett, and others
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10 Great What-Ifs of American History
- By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 7
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Story4 out of 5 stars 7
Accompanied by a selection of guests, Professor Jortner takes you through a mind-bending exploration of the history that could have been. Captivating storytellers and imaginative thinkers, these experts show how history is contingent on split-second decisions, near misses, and sheer dumb luck. By reflecting on what didn’t happen, 10 Great What-Ifs of American History gives you new insights on what did happen—and the impact on our world today.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Overacting and Multiple Narrators Distracting
- By homedaddy on 05-09-24
By: Adam Jortner, and others
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What America’s Founders Learned from Antiquity
- By: Caroline Winterer, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Caroline Winterer
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
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Story5 out of 5 stars 6
Many Americans know that our nation’s founders drew inspiration from the political systems of ancient Rome and Greece. But what exactly were these influences? And did they shape the United States in far-reaching ways? In these 24 compelling lectures, Professor Winterer takes you on a journey into the thought and actions of the American revolutionaries, showing how classical antiquity shaped every aspect of the revolutionary and founding era.
By: Caroline Winterer, and others
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Existentialism and the Authentic Life
- By: Skye C. Cleary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Skye C. Cleary
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 11
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 6
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Story4 out of 5 stars 6
In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to help you understand how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Friendly presentation
- By Anonymous User on 06-04-24
By: Skye C. Cleary, and others
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Underwater Archaeology
- Mysteries of the Deep
- By: Ashley Lemke, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ashley Lemke
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The work of archaeology uncovers fascinating vestiges of humanity’s past, greatly enriching our knowledge of our ancestors and ourselves. Over the last century, archaeologists have increasingly ventured underwater, making spellbinding finds and opening an incredible new frontier for archaeological discovery. In the 12 delightful and eye-opening lectures of Underwater Archaeology: Mysteries of the Deep, Professor Lemke, an expert underwater archaeologist working in the field, invites you to discover astonishing treasures of history that lie beneath the waves.
By: Ashley Lemke, and others
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Think like a Stoic
- Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World
- By: Massimo Pigliucci, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Massimo Pigliucci
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 675
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 584
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 578
Distilled to its essence, the ancient Greco-Roman philosophy known as Stoicism is a philosophy of personal betterment. Professor Pigliucci, who knows firsthand just how transformative a Stoic approach to life can be, has designed these 25 lessons as an enlightening introduction to the basics of Stoic philosophy and ways to incorporate its lessons into your own life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A lot to love. A little to object to.
- By Amazon Customer on 08-20-21
By: Massimo Pigliucci, and others
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The Ancient City
- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Ancient Greece and Rome
- By: Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 105
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 92
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 92
One of the most remarkable historical works of the 19th century came from the pen of French historian Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges, a native of Paris. This amazing analysis of family and religious life among the ancient Greeks and Romans is the key to understanding ancient Mediterranean civilizations. The story begins in the misty period of the Bronze Age as the Indo-Europeans began to filter down into the Italian and Greek peninsulas. They brought with them a patriarchy that was based on ancestor worship and the veneration of hearth gods.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Exhaustive Detail
- By Existimator on 06-15-24
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Forgotten America
- Rediscovering Events That Changed the Nation
- By: Rachel Michelle Gunter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Rachel Michelle Gunter
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3
In Forgotten America: Rediscovering Events that Changed the Nation, turn your attention to the unfamiliar in United States history with historian and author Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Definitely Worth Your Time
- By Ryan on 07-11-25
By: Rachel Michelle Gunter, and others
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Being and Time
- By: Martin Heidegger
- Narrated by: Martyn Swain, Taylor Carman
- Length: 23 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 115
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 99
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 99
Being and Time was published in 1927 during the Weimar period in Germany, a time of political, social and economic turmoil. Heidegger himself did not escape the pressures and his nationalism, and undeniable anti-Semitism in the following decades cast a shadow over the man, but not the work. Being and Time is not coloured by expressions of his later views (unlike other writings) and remains an outstanding document.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Surprised it works as audio
- By Anonymous on 02-02-20
By: Martin Heidegger
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Understanding the World of Financial Markets
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Whether you’re buying a home, saving for retirement, running a business, or just plain speculating, it’s important to understand financial markets. These are the engines of commerce in today’s world, powering economic activity and steering the flow of capital. Taught by Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University, Understanding the World of Financial Markets is aimed at the ordinary investor and surveys the impressive range of financial markets—from stocks and bonds to futures, options, real estate, private equity, and virtual assets.
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
The course covers, as one would expect, Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz; but also Anne Conway, Elisabeth of Bohemia, and Malebranche. Typically, the focus in early modern philosophy texts is on metaphysics and epistemology, but I appreciated that Reid includes these thinker's moral theories as well. They were not just interested in knowledge -- they were also interested how this knowledge can and should effect the way act and live.
I hope the author next does the empiricist tradition.
Great Introduction and overview
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