The Dream of Enlightenment: The Rise of Modern Philosophy

'This is a blast of fresh air' – Jonathan Clark, TLS
'Thank goodness for Gottlieb' – Daily Telegraph
'A joy to read' – Economist

The author of the celebrated The Dream of Reason vividly explains the rise of modern thought from Descartes to Rousseau.

In a short but transformative period—from the early 1640s to the eve of the French Revolution—some of the most influential minds in Western thought emerged: Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, and Hume. The Dream of Enlightenment tells their story and explores the birth of modern philosophy.

Key Questions Explored:

• What does the advance of science entail for our understanding of ourselves and our ideas of God?
• How should a government deal with religious diversity, and what is government actually for?

These questions remain deeply relevant today. While it may seem that these philosophers speak our language and live in our world, Gottlieb reminds us that to truly understand them, we must step back into their shoes.

What This Book Offers:

• Gottlieb places readers in the minds of these often-misinterpreted figures.
• He elucidates the history of their times, engagingly explains their arguments, and assesses their legacy.
• The book creates a sweeping account of their impact and why we are still indebted to their ideas.