PHIL 413.500: History of Modern Philosophy

Dr. Stephen H. Daniel, Spring 1996

History of Modern Philosophy studies major themes and figures of 17th- and 18th-century people.

Texts:

  • Garrett Thomson, An Introduction to Modern Philosophy [T]
  • Ernst Cassirer, The Philosophy of the Enlightenment [C]
  • Supplementary material on Kant's ethics and aesthetics will be distributed later in the semester.

    Assigned material should be read prior to each class meeting.

    Jan. 16 Introduction (T 1-6) 18 Descartes: Self (T 8-23) 23 Descartes: God (T 24-34) 25 Descartes: World (T 35-48) 30 Spinoza: God (T 49-61) Feb. 1 Spinoza: Mind and Knowledge (T 62-76) 6 Leibniz: Truth (T 77-88) 8 Leibniz: Monads/God (T 89-108) 13 Locke: Ideas (T 110-26) 15 Locke: Substance and Knowledge (T 127-46) 20 Berkeley: Immaterialism (T 147-62) 22 Berkeley: God/Minds (T 163-72) 27 Hume: Ideas and Cause (T 173-94) 29 Hume: Identity (T 195-207) Mar. 5 Mid-semester exam 7 Kant: Sense (T 210-22) 19 Kant: Concepts and Principles (T 223-42) 21 Kant: Dialectic (T 243-55) 26 Kant: Ethics (supplement) 28 Kant: Aesthetics (supplement) Apr. 2 Cassirer: Character and Method of the Enlightenment (ch. 1) 4 Cassirer: Nature and Science (ch. 2) 9 Cassirer: Knowledge (ch. 3) 11 Cassirer: History (ch. 4) 16 Cassirer: Religion (ch. 5) 18 Cassirer: Society (ch. 6) 23 Cassirer: Beauty (ch. 7: 275-312) 25 Cassirer: Art and Genius (ch. 7: 312-60) May 8 (Wednesday) Final exam due in office 10 a.m.

    Grades/Tests: The final grade is based on three components: the mid-semester exam (35%), a take-home final (35%), and the total for answers to study-discussion questions on assigned readings (30%). Study-discussion questions appear at the end of each Thomson chapter and will also be provided for the Kant ethics and aesthetics readings and for the Cassirer chapters (altogether, nearly 275 questions). Each correct answer is worth 1 point (1/2 point for so-so answers). You may answer as many questions as you wish, but at least 50 answers must be turned in by Feb. 29. All answers must be turned in at the beginning of the class in which the material is covered. Class attendance can affect grading significantly. If you have to miss the mid-semester exam, you should contact the instructor to arrange to take it before the next class meeting.

  • Office Hours (Blocker 510): Tuesday 11:00-12:30, 2:00-5:00; Thursday 2:00-5:00
  • Office phone: 845-5619
  • E-mail address: sdaniel@tam2000.tamu.edu

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