Publisher's Synopsis
William Enfield (1741-97) was an influential dissenting theologian and tutor at Warrington Academy. His History is a translation of Johann Jakob Brucker's Historia Critica Philosophiae (first published in six volumes in 1742-67), the most significant and scholarly history of philosophy of the pre-Kantian era. Brucker's classic work is notable for its extensive scholarship, its coverage not only of ancient thought, but also of medieval, Renaissance and early modern ideas. An immensely learned and detailed work, it was the principal authority up until the beginning of the eighteenth century and had a considerable influence in particular upon Kant and the French encyclopedists.
Enfield's aim was not to simply translate Brucker's classic work from Latin: 'Instead of translating the original, I have, therefore, endeavoured to give a faithful representation of its general meaning and spirit: to express these with perspicuity and precision' (from the Preface). This approach proved to be very successful and Enfield's History has long been considered a standard work. Originally printed in 1791 (with subsequent editions following in 1792, 1819 and 1837), the History is arranged into three main periods: 'From the Earliest Times, to the Decline of the Roman Republic', 'To the Revival of Letters' and 'To the Beginning of the Present Century'. The Appendix contains a unique sketch of the progress and state of philosophy in the Indies and among the Chinese at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
The History is particularly interesting for the insight it gives into how philosophy was understood by the eighteenth-century scholar. It contains a plethora of references to the relevant literature, and a comprehensive index helps the reader find their way around the work. This is a reprint of the last edition, 1837, and is published here in two volumes with an Introduction by Knud Haakonssen.
-translation of the most significant history of philosophy of the pre-Kantian era
-standard history of philosophy
-contains a comprehensive index
Enfield's aim was not to simply translate Brucker's classic work from Latin: 'Instead of translating the original, I have, therefore, endeavoured to give a faithful representation of its general meaning and spirit: to express these with perspicuity and precision' (from the Preface). This approach proved to be very successful and Enfield's History has long been considered a standard work. Originally printed in 1791 (with subsequent editions following in 1792, 1819 and 1837), the History is arranged into three main periods: 'From the Earliest Times, to the Decline of the Roman Republic', 'To the Revival of Letters' and 'To the Beginning of the Present Century'. The Appendix contains a unique sketch of the progress and state of philosophy in the Indies and among the Chinese at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
The History is particularly interesting for the insight it gives into how philosophy was understood by the eighteenth-century scholar. It contains a plethora of references to the relevant literature, and a comprehensive index helps the reader find their way around the work. This is a reprint of the last edition, 1837, and is published here in two volumes with an Introduction by Knud Haakonssen.
-translation of the most significant history of philosophy of the pre-Kantian era
-standard history of philosophy
-contains a comprehensive index
