Philosophy 335: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy
Fall, 2005
The objective of this course is to provide you with a broad but thorough introduction to the history of early modern philosophy (roughly 1600 to 1800). We will read original works (sometimes in translation) of each of the seven majors figures of the period: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant. Along with these seven ‘bachelors of science’ we will also read a several women philosophers of the period, whose work has been largely ignored until recently. As a class, we will not read secondary materials (other than a few articles by the instructor and guests), though you will be expected to make use of secondary sources in researching your own papers.
Philosophers of the Medieval era were largely occupied with the task of incorporating the metaphysical and logical insights of the Ancients (especially Plato and Aristotle) into the religious worldview of biblical monotheism. But with the monumental discoveries of the Scientific Revolution (such as those of Copernicus, Galileo, Harvey and Newton), philosophy became increasingly focused on science rather than religion, on the natural rather than the supernatural. Thus, John Locke said that the philosopher ought to serve as an "underlabourer in clearing the ground a little and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way of scientific knowledge." The emphasis on science continued through to Kant, though he saw the relation between philosophy and science rather differently: philosophy is “the queen of the sciences”. We will see that much of the early stage of modern philosophy involved the re-framing of traditional philosophical and theological problems in light of the new scientific and humanistic worldview. And as a consequence an entirely new conception of philosophy itself was established, one which persists to this day. In this class, we will be especially interested in early modern philosophy's treatment of the following issues:
• Knowledge and Method • The Relation between Mind and Matter
• The Existence and Nature of God • Freedom of the Will
• The Nature of the Material World • The Nature of Experience
Class meetings: 3:00 – 4:15 MW in HHH 310
Instructor: Dr. Geoffrey Gorham
Email: gorhamga
Office: HHH 609
Office Phone: 836-2310
Office Hours: MW 2: 00 - 3:00; F: 11 AM - Noon
Required Texts:
1. Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources. Edited by Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins. (MP)
2. Women Philosophers of the Early Modern Period. Edited by Margaret Atherton. (WP)
Course Requirements
1. Exams: one mid-term exam and one final exam, each based on readings, lectures and class discussions. The mid-term exam will be ‘in-class’ on Monday, October 31; the final exam will be ‘take-home’ due on December 22. The final exam will be cumulative. Exams will consist primarily of essay questions, but also possibly some short answer questions.
2. Papers: two papers, one longer than the other. The shorter paper will be due near the middle of term. The longer paper will be due on the final day of class. For both papers, students are encouraged to use both primary and secondary sources. Use of at least two secondary sources is required for the second paper. A draft or detailed outline of the long paper must he submitted to me for comment at least two weeks before the due date. If I do not receive a draft or detailed outline by that time, 5 points will automatically be deducted from the grade on the final paper. A list of suggested topics will be distributed for each paper, but students are encouraged to design their own topics (with instructor approval).
3. Critical Summary: All students will present in class, and hand in, an approximately 3 page critical summary of one of the assigned readings. You are expected to (i) summarize the key ideas, arguments, and conclusions of the reading, (ii) provide some critical analysis, (iii) encourage and facilitate class discussion. Written versions of presentations are due one week after the presentation. Grades will be based primarily on the written summary, but some consideration will also be given to class presentation.
4. Discussion, attendance, etc.: Class will normally begin with a brief lecture or student presentation followed by discussion. It is very important for students to complete all assigned readings in advance of the classes in which those readings will be discussed, attend all class meetings, and participate in class discussion. I will keep informal track of these factors and assign a grade of 1 - 10 at the end of the year. If you always attend class, do the readings, and regularly contribute to discussion, you should expect to receive 10; otherwise, you should expect to receive less than 10.
Grading:
Mid-term Examination: 40 points A = 187 - 200 pts C = 147 - 153 pts
Final Examination: 60 points A- = 180 - 186 pts C- = 140 - 146 pts
Shorter Paper: 30 points B+ = 174 - 179 pts D+ = 134 - 139 pts
Longer Paper: 40 points B = 167 - 173 pts D = 127 - 133 pts
Critical Summary 20 points B- = 160 - 166 pts D- = 120 - 126 pts
Attendance, etc. 10 points C+ = 154 - 159 pts F = 0 - 119 pts
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Total: 200 points
Baccalaureate Portfolio. This class addresses the following goals for the baccalaureate degree: (1) understanding of a liberal education; (2) appreciation of the university as a learning community; (3) ability to inquire, think, analyze; (4) ability to write, read, speak, listen; (5) an historical consciousness; (6) appreciation of science and scientific methods. Relevant assignments and exams from this class may be used for your portfolio.
Disabilities. If you have a physical, emotional, or learning disability I am happy to make appropriate accommodations in order to facilitate your success in this class. Please let me know if I can help.
Academic Misconduct. The disciplinary procedures and penalties for academic misconduct are described in the UW-Eau Claire Student Services and Standards Handbook (http://www.uwec.edu/sdd/publications.htm) in the section titled, "Chapter UWS 14-Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures."
Class Schedule and Readings (subject to revision)
Wednesday, Sep 7: Introduction: “What’s so special about modern philosophy?”
Part I. Continental Rationalism
Monday, Sep 12:
1. Descartes: Dedication, Preface, Synopsis, Meditations One and Two (MP, 22-34)
Wednesday, Sep 14:
1. Descartes: Meditation Three (MP, 34-41)
2. Arnauld: Circularity Objection (MP, 73)
3. Descartes: Reply to Circularity Objection (MP, 79)
Monday, Sep 19:
1. Descartes: Meditations Four and Five (MP, 41-48)
Wednesday, Sep 21:
1. Descartes: Meditation Six (MP, 48-55)
2. Elizabeth and Descartes: ‘Correspondence’ (WP, 11-21)
Monday, Sep 26:
1. Descartes: Discourse on the Method (MP, 12-21)
Wednesday, Sep 28:
1. Spinoza: Ethics (MP, 129-134)
Monday, Oct 3:
1. Spinoza: Ethics (MP, 134-149)
Wednesday, Oct 5:
1. Spinoza: Ethics (MP, 149-158)
Monday, Oct 10:
1. Spinoza: Ethics (MP, 158-168)
Wednesday Oct 12:
1. Spinoza: Ethics (MP, 169-180)
Monday, Oct 17:
1. Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics (MP, 184-198 - Sections 1-22)
Wednesday, Oct. 19:
1. Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics (MP, 198-207 – Sections 23-37)
Monday Oct 24:
1. Leibniz: Monadology (MP, 235-243)
Wednesday Oct 26:
1. Cudworth (Lady Masham): Introduction and Letters to Leibniz (WP, 77-95)
Monday, October 31: Mid-term exam
Part II: British Empiricism and Kant
Wednesday, Nov 2
1. Locke: Essay (MP, 270-281)
Monday, Nov 7: First paper due.
1. Locke: Essay (MP, 281- 290)
Wednesday Nov 9:
1. Locke: Essay (MP, 290-301)
Monday, Nov 14:
1. Locke: Essay (MP, 301-310)
Wednesday Nov 16:
Berkeley: First Dialogue (MP, 413-433)
Monday, Nov 21:
Berkeley: Second Dialogue (MP, 433-443)
Wednesday, Nov 23
Berkeley: Third Dialogue (MP, 443-461)
Monday, Nov 28
Hume: Enquiry (MP, 496-512)
Wednesday, Nov 30:
Hume: Enquiry (MP, 514-522)
Monday, Dec 5:
Hume: Enquiry (MP, 534-543)
Wednesday, Dec 7:
Hume: Treatise (MP, 566-572).
Wednesday, Dec 12:
Kant: Prolegomena (MP, 579-590)
Wednesday, Dec 14: Second paper due.
Kant: Prolegomena (MP, 590-606)
Thursday December 22: Final Exam due by email.