Phil 3171: History of Modern Philosophy
University of Minnesota, Morris
2012 (Under Construction)
Professor Collier
M&W 3:30-5:10
Imholte Hall 101
Course Description: The Scientific Revolution caused a serious crisis in modern thought. It called into question a number of traditional assumptions about the nature of the universe, the relationship between God and the world, and the possibility of human knowledge. It required us to rethink, in other words, our basic conception of things. Philosophers were at the frontlines of this endeavor. We will consider the visions of modernity offered by a diverse and brilliant group of thinkers, including Montaigne, Galileo, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Malebranche, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, and Kant.
Course Requirements: This course will be structured around a combination of lectures and class discussions/group work. This means that you should come to class well-prepared (i.e. with a solid understanding of the readings for the day and questions for discussion). You will be expected to make significant contributions in class discussions.
Grade Distribution:
Three Exams: 20% each
Paper (7-8 pages): 20% (date TBA)
Class Discussion: 20%
Primary Text: Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Eds. Ariew and Watkins), Second Edition.
COURSE SYLLABUS
WEB FORUM
I. Descartes and Locke
Descartes: ??? Read his Principles of Philosophy?
Locke's Polemic Against Innate Ideas
Locke: "No innate principles in the mind" (*)
Locke on Primary/Secondary Qualities
Galileo: "Corpuscularianism" (21- 25)
Boyle: "Corpuscular or Mechanical Philosophy" (308-315)
Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding, II.1.1-5 (322-324), II.2-4 (328-330), II.8.7-26 (332-337)
Locke on Complex Ideas and Substances
Hobbes: "Of Sense" (116)
Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding, II.12 (340-342), II.23 (359-367)
Locke on Personal Identity
Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding, II.27 (367-377)
Butler: "Of Personal Identity" (*)
Reid: "Of Mr. Locke's Account of Personal Identity" (*)
Locke on Knowledge
Hobbes: "Of Reason and Science" (125-129)
Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding, I.1-7 (316-318) and IV.1-4 (386-405)
II. Leibniz and Spinoza
Leibniz on God and the Principle of Sufficient Reason
Leibniz: Monadology, 31-46 (278-279)
Leibniz: "The Ultimate Origin of Things"
Leibniz's Theodicy
Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics 1-7 (224-228)
Leibniz: "Summary of the controversy reduced to formal arguments" (from his Theodicy) (*)
Adams: "Must God Create the Best?" (from Reason and Responsibility)
Leibniz's Theory of Individual Substances
Leibniz: "Primary Truths" (265-268)
Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics 8-14 (228-232)
Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy: "Leibniz's Modal Metaphysics" (Section 1)
Leibniz's Theory of Freedom and Contingency
Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics, 30 (242)
Arnauld: "Letter to Leibniz, May 13, 1686" (pp. 11-16)
Leibniz: "Letters to Arnauld" (248-254)
SEP: "Leibniz's Modal Metaphysics" (Sections 3-4)
Spinoza Part I (first half)
Spinoza Part II (second half)
III. Malebranche and Berkeley
Mar 22. Malebranche's 'Vision in God' Thesis
Malebrache:
Search After Truth III.2.1-7 (200-212)
Malebranche: Search After Truth, Elucidation VI (e-reserve)
Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics, 23-29 (238-242)
Mar 24. Malebranche's Occasionalism
Malebranche: Search After Truth, VI.2.3 & Elucidation XV (212-223)
SEP: "Arguments for Occasionalism"
Mar 31. Berkeley's Critique of Materialism (I)
Berkeley: Principles of Human Knowledge. Intro. 1-4 (462-463)
Berkeley: Principles of Human Knowledge, Preface and Part I. 1-8 (470-472)
Berkeley: First Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous (413-423)
Apr 5. Berkeley's Critique of Materialism (II)
Berkeley: Principles of Human Knowledge Part I. 9-25 (472-476)
Berkeley: First Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous (423-433)
Apr 7. Berkeley's Critique of Materialism (III)
Berkeley: Principles of Human Knowledge Part I. 25-33 (476-477)
Berkeley: Second Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous (433-443)
Apr 12. Berkeley's Defense of Idealism
Berkeley: Third Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous (443-461)
IV. Hume and Kant
Hume's Theory of External World
Hume's Theory of Personal Identity
Hume's Theory of Causation
Reid's Critique
Readings: *3-12, 19-25, 52-59* from Beanblossom and Lehrer edition; then the relevant section from the Hackett collection (Get rid of Bayle unless you can supplement it; perhaps with something about toleration? Or Montaigne?).
Kant's Reply to Hume
Kant's Theory of Causation
Kant's Theory of Freedom
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