** PHIL 4020: History of Modern Philosophy **

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course is designed, firstly, to provide you with an overview of the dominant theories and conceptual tensions which shaped Western philosophical discussion during the modern period (circa 1500-1850); secondly, to aquaint you first-hand with the canonical texts around which that discussion centered.

TEXTS

There will be one required paper text:

-- Baird, Forrest E., and Walter Kaufmann, eds. Philosophic Classics, Volume III: Modern Philosophy, Fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008.

Although the required text is fairly inexpensive, note that most of the required readings are available on-line for perusal, download, or printing; click here to view the course library.

Sources of additional interest, highly recommended:

-- Atherton, Margaret, ed. Women Philosophers of the Early Modern Period. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1992.
-- Descartes, Rene. Philosophical Essays and Correspondence. Edited by Roger Ariew. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000.
-- Leibniz, G.W. and Samuel Clarke, Correspondence. Edited by Roger Ariew. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000.
-- Matthews, Michael R. The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy: Selected Readings. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1989.
-- Nadler, Steven M., ed. A Companion to Early Modern Philosophy. Blackwell Publishers, 2002.

Many of these readings are available on-line; click here to view a selection of e-texts in modern philosophy.

Additional materials are specified in the course bibliography.

COURSE DOWNLOADS

As of Spring 2008, all ancillary class notes for this course are provided electronically. Students can view and/or download these materials by selecting from the links below:

• The Course Bibliography
• What is Modernity?
• Hobbes, Galileo, and Modernity
• Hobbes and Nominalism
• What Are Clear and Distinct Ideas?
• Descartes' Account of Error
• Descartes: Synopsis of Meditation V
• The Excommunication of Baruch Spinoza
• Spinoza's Argument for Substance Monism
• Leibnizian Reductionism
• Leibniz on Perception
• An Overview of Berkeley's Principles
• Space, Time, and Kant
• A Sample Prospectus for the Interpretive Essay

GENERAL COURSE DIVISION

After a brief, thematic retrieve of the cardinal ideas and issues which survived from the classical period into the renaissance, the course will be structured as follows:

1. RENAISSANCE AND THE NEW SCIENCE
   • Readings:
     • Hobbes, from Leviathan, Parts I & II (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.61-99).
   • References:
     • Nadler, I-IV, pp.7-59; XXII, pp.320-337.
     • Matthews, I-IV, pp. 5-86.

2. DESCARTES AND POST-CARTESIAN RATIONALISM
   • Readings:
     • Descartes, from the Meditations (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.13-52).
     • Spinoza, from the Ethics, Parts I and II (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.114-165).
     • Leibniz, from the Discourse, Theodicy, and Monadology (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.255-298).
   • References:
     • On Descartes:
       • Nadler, V-VI, pp.60-95; VIII, pp.113-128.
       • Atherton, I, pp.9-21.
       • Descartes, Correspondence.
       • Matthews, V, pp.87-108; VII, pp.124-132.
     • On Spinoza:
       • Nadler, XII, pp.167-182; XVI, pp. 225-246.
       • Atherton, II, pp.22-45.
     • On Leibniz:
       • Nadler, XVIII, pp.260-280; XXVI, pp.338-403.
       • Leibniz, Correspondence, pp.1-87.
       • Atherton, III, pp.46-76.

3. BRITISH EMPIRICISM
   • Readings:
     • Locke, from the Essay (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.179-246).
     • Berkeley, from the Principles (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.301-351).
     • Hume, from the Enquiry and the Dialogues (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.355-485).
   • References:
     • On Locke:
       • Nadler, XIX, pp.283-297; XXIV, pp.354-374.
       • Atherton, VI, pp.126-146.
     • On Berkeley:
       • Nadler, XXIX, pp.437-455.
       • Matthews, VI, pp.109-123.
     • On Hume:
       • Atherton, VII, pp.147-159.
       • Nadler, XXXII, pp.483--504.
       • Matthews, VII, pp.133-158.

4. THE KANTIAN REVOLUTION
   • Readings:
     • Kant, from the Prolegomena and the first Critique (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.513-609).
   • References:
     • Nadler, XXXV-XXXVII, pp.545-585.

ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE MECHANICS

Reading assignments will be made on a weekly basis, more or less in keeping with the course outline provided above. Because considerable emphasis will be placed on your gaining familiarity with the canonical texts (as well as the philosophical issues) treated in the course. it is imperative that you keep well abreast of the reading material.

Class format will comprise both lecture and discussion periods. Lectures will generally situate problems or positions within historical context; discussion periods will be devoted to exegesis of the texts.

Written assignments: students will be asked to submit four (4) short abstracts (none to exceed two (2) double-spaced typed pages) in the course of the semester. Each abstract should focus on one critical argument/position from each of the major course topics, requiring that one briefly summarize the purport of that argument or position in contemporary idiom. A schedule of topics for the abstracts is provided below; click ahead to view a sample abstract.

Additionally, the course requires submission of an interpretive essay (in the form of a research paper), not to exceed fifteen (15) double spaced typed pages. This assignment asks that you review and analyze the contribution(s) of a major historical figure to some specific field of inquiry (epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of mind, etc.). Topics for the interpretive essay should be chosen around spring break, with the paper due at the end of term. See the course bibliography for sources relevant to this assignment.

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADES

There will be a final examination in this course.

Final grades will be assigned according to the following distribution of points (total possible points = 200):

(a) The abstracts (18 pts. each): 72 pts.
(b) The interpretive essay: 54 pts.
(c) The final examination: 54 pts.
(d) Attendance & class participation: 20 pts.

and according to the following scale:

176-200 = A
152-175 = B
128-151 = C
104-127 = D

under 104 = F

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL ABSTRACTS

1. RENAISSANCE AND THE NEW SCIENCE: your abstract should summarize the first nine 9) paragraphs of Chapter XIV from Part I of Hobbes' Leviathan (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.80-82).

2. DESCARTES AND POST-CARTESIAN RATIONALISM: your abstract should summarize the "Appendix" to Part I of Spinoza's Ethics (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.133-137).

3. BRITISH EMPIRICISM: your abstract should summarize the first eight (8) paragraphs of Section VII of Hume's Enquiry (Baird & Kaufmann, pp.381-383).

4. THE KANTIAN REVOLUTION: your abstract should summarize Sections 27-30 of Kant's Prolegomena (Baird & Kaufmann, pp. 568-569).