17th century in philosophy

This is a timeline of philosophy in the 17th century.

Events

1600 – Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher, poet, alchemist, astronomer, cosmological theorist, and esotericist was burned alive at Campo de' Fiori in Rome after being convicted of heresy. 1611 – The first Accademia dei Lincei is founded by Federico Cesi, which holds discussions that reject the traditional Aristotelian framework. 1620 – The establishment of Francis Bacon’s scientific method prompts reevaluation of empirical evidence in philosophy. 1633 – The Roman Inquisition finds Galileo “vehemently suspect of heresy" after he defended heliocentricism, challenging traditional Aristotelian cosmology. 1641 – René Descartes formulates the mind-body problem in his publication, Meditations on First Philosophy. 1643 – Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and René Descartes correspond about their differing views on mind, soul, and immortality. 1649 – Christina, Queen of Sweden invites René Descartes to educate her in his philosophical views, particularly his insight into Catholicism. 1653 – Blaise Pascal has a spiritual vision of fire that convinces him of God's presence, which leads to him dedicating the rest of his life to theological and philosophical interests. 1656 – Portuguese-Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza is excommunicated from the Portuguese-Jewish community in Amsterdam after questioning rabbinic authority. 1660 – The Royal Society in the United Kingdom establishes after 12 natural philosophers at Gresham College decide to commence a "Colledge for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning.” 1668 – Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz took up a diplomatic position in Mainz, which exposed him to an extensive range of philosophical thought and would lead to rigorous philosophical production. 1670 – Pascal's wager is introduced, causing philosophers to analyze the rationality behind belief in God based on cost-benefit analysis. 1687 – Isaac Newton's Principia demonstrates that the universe operates around rational, discoverable laws, supporting the rise of empiricism and rationalism.

Publications Monita Politico-Moralia et Icon Ingeniorum by Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro Dissertatio, de Ingenii Muliebris ad Doctrinam, & meliores Litteras Aptitudine by Anna Maria von Shurman Quaestiones Quodlibeticae by Arnold Geulincx Logica fundamentis suis restituta by Arnold Geulincx Methodus inveniendi argumenta by Arnold Geulincx De virtute by Arnold Geulincx Opera philosophica by Arnold Geulincx La logique, ou l'art de penser by Antonie Arnauld and Pierre Nicole Grammaire générale et raisonnée by Antonie Arnauld and Claude Lancelot Ethics by Baruch Spinoza Tractatus de Intellectus Emendatione by Baruch Spinoza Principia philosophiae cartesianae by Baruch Spinoza Tractatus Theologico-Politicus by Baruch Spinoza Court Traité Sur Dieu by Baruch Spinoza Pensées by Blaise Pascal Trois discours sur la condition des grands by Blaise Pascal Discours sur les passions de l'amour by Blaise Pascal A Cabbalistical Dialogue by Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont Discours de Métaphysique by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Brevis Demonstratio Erroris Memorabilis Cartesii et Aliorum Circa Legem Naturae by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Divine Dialogues by Henry More Philosophical Poems by Henry MoreDictionary of National Biography; More, Henry (1614–1687). Psychodoia Platonica: or, a Platonicall Song of the Soul by Henry More Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Issac Newton Certamen Philosophicum Propugnatæ Veritatis Divinæ ac Naturalis Adversus J. Bredenburgi Principia by Isaac Orobio de Castro Disputatio theologica practica de conscientia by Johannes Clausberg Two Treatises of Government by John Locke Epistola de tolerantia by John Locke An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke Tenure of Kings and Magistrates by John Milton An Essay Towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language by John Wilkins The Nature of Bodies by Kenelm Digby On the Immortality of Reasonable Souls by Kenelm Digby Observations upon Experimental Philosophy by Margaret Cavendish Grounds of Natural Philosophy by Margaret Cavendish Philosophical Letters by Margaret Cavendish Some Reflections Upon Marriage by Mary Astell Animadversiones by Pierre Gassendi Exercitationes by Pierre Gassendi Syntagma philosophicum by Pierre Gassendi Dasbodh by Samarth Ramdas Les Passions de l'âme by René Descartes Discours de la Méthode by René Descartes Meditationes de Prima Philosophia by René Descartes L’Homme by René Descartes Meditationes de Prima Philosophia by René Descartes Considérations sur l'état présent de la controverse touchant le T. S. Sacrement de l'autel by Robert Desgabets Discours de la communication ou transfusion du sang by Robert Desgabets Critique de la critique de la Recherche de la vérité by Robert Desgabets Traité de l’indéfectibilité des créatures by Robert Desgabets Supplément à la philosophie de M. Descartes by Robert Desgabets Guide de la raison naturelle by Robert Desgabets Traité de l’union de l’âme et du corps by Robert Desgabets De legibus naturae by Richard Cumberland Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes De Cive by Thomas Hobbes De Corpore by Thomas Hobbes De Motu, Loco et Tempore by Thomas Hobbes The Horae Subsecivae by Thomas Hobbes Elementorum Philosophiae Sectio Secunda De Homine by Thomas Hobbes Problematica Physica by Thomas Hobbes Of Liberty and Necessity by Thomas Hobbes and John Bramhall

Births 1600 – Elizabeth Foxcroft, English theosophist. 1601 – Baltasar Gracián, Spanish Jesuit and Baroque prose writer and philosopher. 1602 – William Chillingworth, English churchman. 1602 – Bartholomew Mastrius, Italian Conventual Franciscan philosopher and theologian. 1602 – Athanasius Kircher, German Jesuit scholar and polymath. 1603 – Kenelm Digby, English courtier, diplomat, and natural philosopher. 1603/04 – Issac Cardoso, Sephardic Jewish physician, philosopher, and polemic writer. 1603/04 – Anandghan, Śvetāmbara Jain monk, mystical poet and hymnist. 1605 – Thomas Browne, English polymath. 1606 – Mulla Mahmud Jaunpuri, Indian natural philosopher and astronomer. 1607 – Francesco Sforza Pallavicino, Italian cardinal, philosopher, theologian, literary theorist, and church historian. 1607 – Anna Maria van Schurman, Dutch painter, engraver, poet, classical scholar, philosopher, and feminist writer. 1608 – Samarth Ramdas, Indian Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer, and spiritual master. 1609 – Kâtip Çelebi, Turkish polymath. 1610 – Robert Desgabets, French Cartesian philosopher and Benedictine prior. 1610 – Huang Zongxi, Chinese naturalist, political theorist, philosopher, and soldier. 1612 – Antoine Arnauld, French Catholic theologian, philosopher, and mathematician. 1614 – Henry More, English philosopher. 1614 – John Wilkins, English Anglican clergyman, natural philosopher, and author. 1614 – Franciscus Mercurius van Helmon, Flemish alchemist and writer. 1617 – Ralph Cudworth, English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian, and philosopher. 1617 – Isaac Orobio de Castro, Portuguese Jewish philosopher, physician, and religious apologist. 1617 – Tito Livio Burattini, Italian inventor, architect, Egyptologist, scientist, instrument-maker, traveller, engineer, and nobleman. 1618 – Jacques Rohault, French philosopher, physicist, and mathematician. 1618 – John Smith, English philosopher, theologian, and educator. 1619 – Walter Charleton, English natural philosopher and writer. 1619 – Nathaniel Culverwell, English author and theologian. 1620 – Claude Frassen, French Franciscan Scotist theologian and philosopher. 1620 - François Bernier, French physician and traveller. 1622 – Johannes Clauberg, German theologian and philosopher. 1623 – Margaret Cavendish, English philosopher, poet, scientist, fiction writer, and playwright. 1623 – Blaise Pascal, French physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. 1623 – William Petty, English economist, physician, scientist, and philosopher. 1623 – Arnold Geulincx, Flemish philosopher, metaphysician, and logician. 1626 – Géraud de Cordemoy, French philosopher, historian, and lawyer. 1626 – Christiaan Huygens, Dutch mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor. 1625 – Francesco D'Andrea, Italian jurist and natural philosopher. 1627 – Robert Boyle, Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, alchemist, and inventor. 1627 – Hugh Binning, Scottish philosopher and theologian. 1627 – Itō Jinsai, Japanese Confucian philosopher. 1630 – Pierre Daniel Huet, French churchman, scholar, editor, and Bishop of Soissons. 1630 – Kaibara Ekken, Japanese Neo-Confucianist philosopher and botanist. 1631 – Richard Cumberland, English philosopher and Bishop of Peterborough. 1631 – Ann Conway, English philosopher. 1632 – John Locke, English philosopher and physician. 1632 – Baruch Spinoza, Dutch philosopher, theologian, author, and political scientist. 1632 – Louis de La Forge, French philosopher. 1632 – Pierre-Sylvain Régis, French philosopher. 1633 – Walda Heywat, Ethiopian philosopher. 1634 – Balthasar Bekker, Dutch minister, philosopher, and theologian. 1635 – Yan Yuan, Chinese classicist, essayist, and philosopher. 1636 – Joseph Glanvill, English philosopher and clergyman. 1637/38 – Richard Burthogge, physician, magistrate, and philosopher. 1638 – Nicolas Malebranche, French Oratorian Catholic priest and rationalist philosopher. 1642 – Isaac Newton, English polymath. 1644 – Simon Foucher, French polemic philosopher. 1646 – Elena Cornaro Piscopia, Italian philosopher. 1647 – Pierre Bayle, French philosopher, author, and lexicographer. 1649 – Samuel Bold, English clergyman and controversialist. 1649 – Samuel Johnson, English clergyman and political writer. 1650 – Michelangelo Fardella, Italian scientist and mathematician. 1655 – Christian Thomasius, German jurist and philosopher. 1657 – John Norris, English philosopher, theologian, and poet. 1657 – Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, French author and philosopher. 1659 – Damaris Cudworth Masham, English writer, philosopher, theologian, and proto-feminist. 1659 – William Wollaston, English teacher, priest, scholar, theologian, and philosopher. 1661 – René-Joseph de Tournemine, French Jesuit philosopher and theologian. 1661 – Claude Buffier, French philosopher, historian, and teacher. 1662 – Francesco Bianchini, Italian philosopher and scientist. 1663 – Jean-Pierre de Crousaz, Swiss theologian and philosopher. 1665 – Ingeborg i Mjärhult, Swedish natural healer, natural philosopher, soothsayer and spiritual visionary. 1665 – Richard Bentley, English classical scholar, critic, and theologian. 1665 – Peter Browne, Irish Anglican priest. 1666 – Ogyū Sorai, Japanese historian, philologist, philosopher, and translator. 1666 – Guru Gobind Singh, Sikh Guru, warrior, poet, and philosopher. 1668 – Giambattista Vico, Italian philosopher, rhetorician, historian, and jurist. 1668 – Tommaso Campailla, Italian philosopher, physician, politician and poet. 1670 – Bernard Mandeville, Anglo-Dutch philosopher, political economist, satirist, writer and physician. 1671 – Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, English peer, Whig politician, philosopher, and writer. 1671 – Luigi Guido Grandi, Italian monk, priest, philosopher, theologian, mathematician, and engineer. 1672 – Gershom Carmichael, Scottish philosopher. 1675 – Samuel Clarke, English philosopher and Anglican cleric. 1675 – Yves Marie André, French Jesuit mathematician, philosopher, and essayist. 1676 – Anthony Collins, English philosopher and essayist. 1676 – Pietro Giannone, Italian philosopher, historian, and jurist. 1677 – Antonio Schinella Conti, Italian writer, translator, mathematician, philosopher, and physicist. 1678 – Robert Greene, English philosopher. 1679 – Christian Wolff, German philosopher.