Course Syllabus
Objective: This course is designed to introduce the students to the major trends in philosophy from the end of the medieval period, i.e. about 1500, until Immanuel Kant in the late 18th Century. We will emphasize the connections that thinkers in this era have with the classical past as well as the influence that they have had on the problems and ideas of our present day. We will also discuss the tension and relationship between society as a whole and philosophy, especially with regard to how each influences the other.
Requirements: Students are required to attend all classes and should call the instructor if they cannot attend. A part of each student's grade will be determined by class attendance and participation.
Students are required to read all assignments which will usually be about 50 pages of required reading per week. The amount of optional (but nevertheless helpful) reading may be more. Failure to read the assignments will show in class discussions, hurt the students' participation and quiz grades and make for a boring class.
One five-page paper will be due two weeks before the end of the semester. Students have a choice of assignments:
1. Simply present the views of a philosopher from the modern period whom we do not cover in class and evaluate those views, both historically and philosophically. The philosophers to choose from are Hobbes, Spinoza, and Berkeley, or some other one with the approval of the instructor.
2. Examine and evaluate the views of any modern philosopher with respect to one of the following topics: a. the nature of the human person; b. cognition; c. God; d. causality; e. civil government; or another topic with the approval of the instructor.
In all cases, the students are expected to present accurately what the philosopher thought, how these views exemplify the trends in modern philosophy, and the reasons why the student believes these views are true or false. Students may use our texts for sources and/or other sources as well. All information, especially direct quotations, must be cited, making clear the work from which the information comes and the page(s) when appropriate. Please include a bibliography. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
The paper is not primarily a research paper, but a philosophical and analytical one. As such, a student should explain the problem he or she is examining making perspicuous the difficulties it involves, the philosophical principles it presupposes, and what new understanding (new principle or rejection of a principle) is necessary to resolve the conflict. Finally, the student should discuss what consequences ensue from this resolution of the problem. More information as to format and style will be provided in the course of the semester.
Throughout the semester, according to no regular pattern, the students will be quizzed on the assigned readings. These quizzes will consist of ten short answer or true/false questions. The purpose of the quizzes is to ensure that the students do the readings.
The final grade for the course will be determined from the scores earned throughout the semester and weighted in the following manner: 25% midterm exam, 30% final exam, 20% paper, 15% quizzes, and 10% attendance and class participation.
Texts:
W. T. Jones, A History of Western Philosophy, Volume III: Hobbes to Hume, (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1969).
The Rationalists
: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, (New York: Doubleday, 1990).The Empiricists
: Locke, Berkeley, Hume, (New York: Doubleday, 1990).Schedule of Readings
January 19 Introduction: Philosophy and History.
The Classical Antecedents to Modern Philosophy.
24 Thomas Aquinas and Scholasticism.
Reading - Required: Hand-out.
Jones, pp. 1-26.
26 Renaissance and Reformation.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 26-66.
31 Scientific Revolution.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 67-87.
February 2 Scientific Revolution.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 88-117.
7 Rene Descartes - Introduction.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 154-162.
Recommended: Rationalists, pp. 39-96
9 Descartes - Meditations I & II.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 99-127.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 162-180.
14 Descartes - Meditation III.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 128-143.
16 Descartes - Meditations IV & V.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 144-159.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 180-191.
21 Descartes - Meditation VI.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 160-175.
23 John Locke - Introduction.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 238-252.
28 Locke.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 7-52.
March 2 Locke.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 52-75.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 252-266.
7 Locke.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 75-117.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 266-279.
9 Locke.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 117-133.
14 Gottfried Leibniz - Introduction.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 219-224.
16 MIDTERM EXAM
21 SPRING BREAK
23 SPRING BREAK
28 Leibniz.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 409-431.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 229-235.
30 Leibniz.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 431-453.
April 4 Leibniz.
Reading - Required: Rationalists, pp. 455-471.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 224-229; 235-237.
6 David Hume - Introduction.
Reading - Required: Jones, pp. 298-304.
Empiricists, pp. 306-333.
11 Hume.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 334-348.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 304-326.
13 Hume.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 349-364.
Recommended: Jones, pp. 326-351.
18 Hume.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 364-386.
20 Hume.
Reading - Required: Empiricists, pp. 387-417.
Recommended: Empiricists, pp. 417-430.
25 Immanuel Kant - Introduction. -- PAPER DUE --
Reading - Required: Prologomena to Any Future Metaphysic, Intro, Preamble, Parts I and II
27 Kant.
Reading - Required: Prologomena, Part III and Conclusion.
May 2 Kant.
Reading - Required: Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
4 Final Review.
FINAL EXAM