Philosophy Of The Modern Age

Preconditions and Key Features of Modern Philosophy

The Modern Age marks a period of the formation and establishment of capitalist social relations in Europe. As a result of bourgeois revolutions in the Netherlands during the sixteenth century, and subsequently in England in the seventeenth century, the political dominance of the bourgeoisie and the newly bourgeoisified nobility was solidified. Significant changes unfolded in societal life: the emergence of nation-states; a shift of life’s center toward urban areas, where diverse forms of industrial activity flourished; an acceleration of social life; a diminishing influence of the church; and the rapid advancement of scientific knowledge, underpinned by mechanized production, transforming science into a leading factor of societal change.

In parallel, a revolution occurred within science itself: a new type of science emerged—experimental-mathematical natural science—replacing the contemplative natural philosophy of the Renaissance. At the core of humanity's relationship with the world during this period lies knowledge, with a particular emphasis on positive knowledge grounded in experience and experimentation. It is believed that knowledge is necessary for mastering nature and deriving practical benefits.

The substantial shifts in lifestyle, value systems, and spiritual worldview associated with this new era found reflection in the new thematic concerns and styles of philosophical inquiry. While in the Middle Ages philosophy served as a handmaiden to theology, and during the Renaissance it allied itself with art and humanistic studies, in the Modern Age it primarily draws upon science. Philosophy is tasked, above all, with the role of systematizing science, orienting itself primarily toward the exploration of scientific knowledge and the methodologies for its acquisition. Epistemology, the development of scientific research methods, takes center stage.

European culture during the Modern Age, spanning the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, represents a unity rooted in bourgeois modes of production and sharing common spiritual orientations: rationalism, scientism, anthropocentrism, progressivism (an unwavering belief in limitless progress and the possibility of transforming the world and society based on rational principles), and Eurocentrism. Throughout this epoch, philosophical inquiries encompass a vast array of issues, characterized by a diversity of prominent figures. However, each century within this era possesses its unique cultural identity, which naturally finds expression in the corresponding philosophical concepts.