Habit and Custom in the History of Early Modern Philosophy

Habit and custom are important notions in the works of many early modern authors. They are conceptual tools used in many cases: in moral accounts without recourse to religious principles; in political accounts to explain crucial processes such as the establishment of laws; in physiological accounts to describe the way the body and the brain function; and in epistemological accounts to report how people think. Habit and custom are closely related and sometimes even synonyms. Their meanings fluctuate depending on their use and the context, yet they remain powerful notions