Phil 331 Early Modern Philosophy

Rex Gilliland

Office: Thornton 208B

Phone: 646-9390

Course Description: This course is an introduction to 17^th and 18^th century European philosophy. The focus will be on the major figures of continental rationalism – Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz – and British empiricism – Locke, Berkeley, and Hume – as well as Kant’s attempt to synthesize both schools of thought. We will be concerned primarily with metaphysical and epistemological issues, such as causality, necessity, substance, matter, space, God, mind, free will, personal identity, as well as the source and nature of knowledge. At the same time, we will note the historical background, e.g., the emergence of modern science and the social and political changes occurring in Europe, insofar as it impacts the philosophical developments being discussed.

Texts:

1. Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources, ed. Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1998)

2. Course Reader

Requirements and Grading:

1. Regular attendance, participation in class discussions, and completing the assigned reading before class.

2. Two essay exams and two papers, as well as quizzes and shorter writing assignments.

Tentative Schedule

I. Descartes and his Predecessors (Weeks 1-3)

Bacon and Galileo selections

Descartes, Discourse on Method, Meditations on First Philosophy, Objections and Replies, Principles of Philosophy

II. Spinoza (Weeks 4-5)

Ethics Bks. I, II, V, Letters

III. Leibniz (Weeks 6-7)

Newton selection

New System of Nature, Discourse on Metaphysics, Monadology, Letters

IV. Locke (Weeks 8-9)

Essay Concerning Human Understanding Introduction, Bks. I, II, and IV

V. Berkeley (Weeks 10-11)

Three Dialogues, Principles of Human Knowledge

VI. Hume (Weeks 12-13)

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, A Treatise on Human Nature Bk. 1, Ch. 4

VII. Kant (Weeks 14-15)

Critique of Pure Reason Introduction 2^nd ed., Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics