New Theory of Human Reason (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: [German] Leibniz, translated by Chen Xiuzhai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1982-01-01
Features: In the 17th century, the Western European philosophical community erupted into a major debate between empiricism and rationalism in epistemology. First, the materialist empiricist Francis Bacon laid down the principle that knowledge originates from experience. Then, Descartes advocated rationalism and promoted the theory of innate ideas, which was refuted by Hobbes, Gassendi, and others. By the late 17th century, Locke, in his An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, thoroughly refuted the theory of innate ideas and systematically argued for the principles of empiricism. Subsequently, Leibniz, from the perspective of idealist rationalism and upholding the theory of innate ideas, wrote this book based on his views of "Monadology" and "Pre-established Harmony," engaging in a point-by-point, chapter-by-chapter, and paragraph-by-paragraph debate and discussion with Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. This book holds significant importance for understanding the struggle in the history of modern European philosophy as well as the science and philosophy of the time.