Theories of consciousness in early-modern philosophy
Advances in Consciousness Research August 7, 2012 Roberto Palaia 3 citations
In 17th- and 18th-century European languages, the word 'consciousness' underwent a semantic shift. Previously tied to theology and ethics, it acquired a new meaning in early modern thought, referring to knowledge of the self. Phrases like 'freedom of consciousness' and 'casus conscientiae' became more frequent in political, religious, scientific, and philosophical texts. This analysis examines these semantic fields in key philosophical and scientific works, focusing on their specific uses and contexts.