In A History of Philosophy by Frederick Copleston, he makes an 
interesting observation as philosophical thought proceeds from the 
Ancient and Medieval times into the period of the modern philosophers. 
This transition begins around the mid 1400’s. He notes that the ancient 
philosophers were more aesthetic, concerning themselves with the 
surrounding beauty, where they based their viewpoints primarily upon the
 world around them. However, the thinkers in the Middle Ages did 
consider the theological aspects associated with philosophy. When 
considering the beauty and goodness surrounding them, they reasoned as 
such and considered the ‘first cause’ of these events. Their reasoning 
regarding these first causes provided a link in the mind as to the true 
nature of things. Faith in ‘what ought to be’ reigned supreme in the 
medieval mind. This faith was solidified even more when divinely 
revealed truth was found. Therefore, these thinkers saw philosophy as a 
handmaiden to theology. 
 
As the modern era begins, philosophers began to focus more on a 
scientific plain in his search for truth. One of the results of this 
particular focus is that it becomes more individualized, but yet at the 
same time, and as the means for disseminating correspondence increases, 
these finding become more international. As, such, no two great thinkers
 of this era agreed fully regarding the important issues—each researcher
 examined his own evidence drawing his own conclusion. The modern 
scientist demonstrated probable truths based on empirical observations. 
Their reporting was confined to the facts that they had discovered. They
 did not regard science as the mere accumulation of data. They also were
 interested in explaining their findings. 
 
The entire focus of modern philosophical thought was to uncover those 
truths that were consistently held in the past, arrived in their time, 
and could carry them onto into future thought. However, these truths are
 encapsulated in a historical setting. The study of the history of 
philosophy is governed by rules of interpretation which comes into play 
when evaluations are made. Every philosophical method must be able to 
prove its worth by being able to evaluate other ideas. Using this 
format, the history of philosophy investigates the other philosophies to
 see how their conclusions stand up. The result of the investigation is 
to discover how to set aside errors.

A History of Western Philosophy: Modern and Post-Modern - From Descartes to Derrida PDF

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