Introduction

This introduction provides reflections on Condillac’s contributions to the shaping of salient features of modern society and the way in which an engagement with him was often utilized (in France and elsewhere) to advocate a paradigmatic shift in philosophy. As a result, the picture we form of Condillac today is substantially informed by the numerous attempts in the history of philosophy to position oneself for or against him and to evaluate one’s own philosophical claims in relation to his ideas on method, sensation, perception, and reflection. The introduction also provides an overview of the different chapters by presenting them in conjunction with key themes of the volume.