Description: Desmond M. Clarke presents a thematic history of French philosophy from the middle of the sixteenth century to the beginning of Louis XIV's reign. He explores the thought of lawyers, political leaders, theologians, and scholars, in relation to topics ranging from political theory, scepticism, and ethics, to philosophy of mind and women's equality.
Review Quotes: "Clarke's book is a most useful account of a delimited portion of the history of philosophy. The work offers a broad exposition of large swatches of early modern French philosophy. To accomplish this task requires an author with a vast erudition and the command over an enormous quantity of disparate information, all of which were possessed by Clarke and are clearly on display throughout the work." -- Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews