History of Modern Philosophy examines the major themes and figures of the classical modern period (the 17th and 18th Centuries).
Texts: The Rationalists by Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz (Anchor Books)
The Empiricists by Locke, Berkeley, Hume (Anchor Books)
Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant (Carus/Ellington trans., Hackett Pub.)
Recommended secondary source: A History of Philosophy, Frederick Copleston, vols. 4-6.
| Class meeting | Topic | Assigned Reading |
| Sept. 2 | Introduction; Hobbes metaphysics (notes) | (Copleston V: Ch. 1) |
| Sept. 4 | Hobbes political theory (notes) | (Copleston V: Ch. 2) |
| Sept. 9 | Descartes: Meditations I & II | 112-27 |
| Sept. 11 | Descartes: Meditations III | 128-43 |
| Sept. 16 | Descartes: Meditations IV & V | 144-59 |
| Sept. 18 | Descartes: Meditations VI | 160-75 |
| Sept. 23 | Malebranche (notes) | (Copleston IV:180-204) |
| Sept. 25 | Spinoza: God | 179-208 |
| Sept. 30 | Spinoza: mind-body | 208-48 |
| Oct. 2 | Spinoza: emotions | 248-74, 321-24, 378-82 |
| Oct. 7 | Leibniz: Discours on Metaphysics | 409-433 (top) |
| Oct. 9 | Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics | 433 (top)-453 |
| Oct. 14 | Leibniz: Monadology | 455-71 |
| Oct. 16 | Mid-semester exam | |
| Oct. 21 | Locke: Ideas (notes) | 7-40 |
| Oct. 23 | Locke: Liberty, substance, identity (notes) | 40-75 |
| Oct. 28 | Locke: knowledge | 75-133 |
| Oct. 30 | Berkeley: existence | 135-63 |
| Nov. 4 | Berkeley: objections | 163-85 |
| Nov. 6 | Berkeley: minds | 185-215 |
| Nov. 11 | Hume: skepticism | 307-334 |
| Nov. 13 | Hume: causality | 334-64 |
| Nov. 18 | Hume:freedom, miracles | 364-404 |
| Nov. 20 | Hume: religion | 404-30 |
| Nov. 25 | Kant: critique of reason | Proleg 1-34 |
| (Nov. 27) | (Thanksgiving holiday) | |
| Dec. 2 | Kant: categories | Proleg 35-63 |
| Dec. 4 | Kant: Ideas | Proleg 64-84 |
| Dec. 9 | Kant: limits of metaphysics | Proleg 85-116 |
| Dec. 12 (Friday) | Final Exam 12:30 p.m. |
Office: Bolton 302 B
Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 - 12:30 and 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 845-5619 (office), 846-4649 (home)
Email: sdaniel@people.tamu.edu
Website: http://people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/413sy03.html
Grades/Tests
The semester grade is based equally on two in-class essay-format tests, the mid-semester exam and the final exam. In addition, on five occasions (but at least three times before the mid-semester exam) you have to write a two-page summary of the daily reading. These summaries add extra points to a test score: A=2 1/2 pts, B=1 1/2 pts, C=1/2 pt. Summaries must be turned in at the beginning of the class in which the readings are discussed. Failure to submit summaries will result in -4 pts each. (For more on how to write the summaries, see below.) In addition to the five required summaries, you can write as many other summaries as you want for extra points. There are 25 days when we have readings, so you have a chance to add up to 62 1/2 points to one of your test scores. There is no grade for attendance, but if you miss a class it usually affects how I grade your answers on tests. If you miss a test, contact me before the next class meeting to take a make-up exam.
Students with disabilities are guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Disability Services, Koldus Bldg. 126, or call 845-1637.
Information on the definitions and sanctions regarding cheating and plagiarism can be found at http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rules20.htm.
Guidelines for the Summaries
Summaries should address the question: What are the main points discussed in the assigned readings? Do not bother with biographical or historical remarks about the philosopher: focus on the arguments he presents. Summaries should be limited solely to the points raised in the readings; they are not intended as opportunities for you to say how you agree or disagree with the author. You can use secondary sources (e.g., Copleston) to help explain the reading, but you should not rely excessively on them. For example, suppose you are summarizing Descartes' argument for the existence of God in Meditations III and need to explain his distinction between objective and formal reality. You can refer to the distinction and the discussion in Copleston easily and quickly by saying something like, "According to Descartes, even though my ideas (e.g., of infinite being) are all modifications or 'forms' of my mind that depend on my thinking them, their content or 'objective reality' does not depend on me (Copleston, 4: 99-102)." In this way, you clarify a topic that is not explained by Descartes in the primary reading by parenthetically referring to your secondary source. Also, avoid statements like "For centuries philosophers ..." Finally, make sure you cover all assigned pages.
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