Rachel Ashcroft is an award-winning arts and culture journalist and a philosopher focusing on Renaissance Philosophy. She holds a PhD in 16th Century Philosophy from Durham University and completed her MSc Comparative Literature and MA French and Italian at the University of Edinburgh.
Areas of Expertise
Desiderius Erasmus’ Dispute with Martin Luther: Are We Free?
Erasmus is one of the best-known thinkers of the Renaissance, and his dispute with Martin Luther over the concept of free will is a famous philosophical and theological conundrum.
Epicurus on the Values of Family and Friendship
Epicureanism is a philosophy that promotes community and life’s simple pleasures. What does Epicurus have to say on family and friendship?
5 Philosophers on the Values of Family & Parenting
What can philosophy teach us about the value and meaning of family and parenting? We take a closer look at the ideas of 5 key philosophers.
Who Was Desiderius Erasmus? His Life and Legacy
Desiderius Erasmus is regarded today as one of the most significant thinkers of the early modern period. This article provides a summary of his impressive life and legacy.
Philosophy of Atomism: Did Ancient Greek Thinkers Discover Atoms?
Atomism has been around for centuries in philosophy, long before the modern scientific definition of atoms. This article explores some of the key philosophers and ideas of ancient Atomists.
“On the Nature of Things”: Lucretius’ Secrets of the Universe
On the Nature of Things by Roman philosopher Lucretius is one of the most influential texts in the history of philosophy.
How to Become an Effective Leader According to Niccolò Machiavelli
What makes Niccolò Machiavelli’s most famous book ‘The Prince’ so influential? It was written as a handbook on how to rule and its advice is still considered extremely insightful.
What were Virtù and Fortuna According to Niccolò Machiavelli?
Virtù and Fortuna are central to understanding Niccolò Machiavelli’s political philosophy. This article takes a closer look at the relationship between these two important Machiavellian concepts.
5 Facts About René Descartes You Should Know
René Descartes laid the foundations of rationalism and inspired devoted followers such as Spinoza and Leibniz. This article details his life and some of his core beliefs in more detail.
What is Renaissance Philosophy’s Connection to Mysticism?
The Renaissance saw a flourishing in European arts and philosophy, and Renaissance philosophy was influenced by mysticism and the occult.
How to Achieve Ultimate Happiness? 5 Philosophical Answers
Happiness is almost universally considered to be something good and enjoyable. But what exactly is it? We take a look at how five different schools of philosophy define happiness.
What Does “I Think, Therefore I Am” Mean in Philosophy?
René Descartes’ observation “I think, therefore I am” is one of philosophy’s most famous formulations. But what does it actually mean?