Modern Philosophy: From the French Revolution to Sartre, Camus, and Lévi-Strauss (A History of Philosophy, Volume IX)

Jun 23, 2026

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Volume IX of Frederick Copleston’s A History of Philosophy traces modern philosophy from the French Revolution through major 19th- and early 20th-century currents and figures. The structure moves from traditionalist reaction and the ideologists, through eclecticism, social philosophy, Comte’s positivism, and French positivism and spiritualism, then to Bergson’s account of time, freedom, memory, instinct, intelligence, and intuition. It follows later French intellectual developments including Bergson-to-Sartre themes, Christian apologetics, Thomism, philosophy of science and values, and Sartre’s existentialism.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages497

Reading Time20 h 52 min

Preface

Part I: From the Revolution to Auguste Comte

The Traditionalist Reaction to the Revolution

The Ideologists and Maine de Biran

Eclecticism

Social Philosophy

Auguste Comte

Part II: From Auguste Comte to Henri Bergson

Positivism in France

The Spiritualist Movement

Henri Bergson (1)

Henri Bergson (2)

Part III: From Bergson to Sartre

Philosophy and Christian Apologetics

Thomism in France

Philosophy of Science

Philosophy of Values, Metaphysics, Personalism

Two Religious Thinkers

The Existentialism of Sartre (1)

The Existentialism of Sartre (2)

FAQs

What period does Volume IX cover in Copleston’s A History of Philosophy?

It covers modern philosophy from the French Revolution onward, extending through Sartre, Camus, and Lévi-Strauss-era themes.

How is the volume organized?

The volume is divided into three parts: from the Revolution to Auguste Comte, from Comte to Henri Bergson, and from Bergson to Sartre, with multiple chapters under each part.

Which philosophical movements and thinkers are highlighted before Sartre?

Key topics include traditionalism, the ideologists (including Maine de Biran), eclecticism, social philosophy, Comte’s positivism, French positivism, spiritualism, and Bergson’s philosophy of time, freedom, memory, and intuition.

Jun 23, 2026

Upload by Violet