This outstanding volume provides an unparalleled collection of the essential readings of modernism and postmodernism. Motivated by the assumption that students cannot appreciate postmodernism without first understanding the development of modernity, this anthology puts contemporary debate in the context of the criticism of modernity since the seventeenth century. Chronologically and thematically arranged, the book is the ideal text for students and general readers alike. Its breadth and depth of coverage ensure that it will be an indispensable and multidisciplinary resource in philosophy, literature, cultural studies, social theory, and religious studies.