This course in the history of philosophy will cover the major texts in the rationalist and empiricist traditions of the early modern period in Europe. Thinkers from Descartes to Hume were the first to articulate problems in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and moral philosophy that continue to shape the nature of philosophical inquiry today, in both the ‘analytic’ and ‘continental’ traditions. The course will provide students with a solid grounding in the canonical texts of modern philosophy, as well as introducing them to the methodological questions raised by studying philosophy in its historical context. In particular the course will consider the self-understanding of these foundational figures in their efforts at once to accommodate the consequences of the Scientific Revolution and to articulate a philosophical alternative to the theological concept of ‘truth’ that had dominated European thought throughout the medieval period. In short, we will address how and in what ways the contested relationship to science and religion is what makes modern philosophy ‘modern’ from its foundations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon Successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the early modern history of philosophy, and
the conceptual content of rationalism and empiricism as traditions of
philosophical inquiry.
- Appreciate the contested nature of modern philosophy from
its inception.
- Deploy a set of concepts and textual references that will
be useful for further study in various fields of philosophy.
- Demonstrate a capacity for evaluating philosophical arguments on their own terms and with respect to their contexts.
Indicative Assessment
In-class Midterm: 20% (LO 1,2,3,4).
One 2000 word Essay: 35% (LO 3,4)
Final Exam: 35% (LO 1,2,3,4)
Tutorial Participation: 10% (LO 1,2,3,4).
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Workload
2 hours of lecture, 1 hour of tutorial, 7 hours of self-directed study per week (total: 130 hours over the semester).
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Ariew, Roger and Eric Watkins (edt). Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (2nd Edt), 2009, Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis.
Preliminary Reading
Descartes, Discourse on Method & Meditations
Spinoza, Ethics
Leibniz, Monadology
Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Berkeley, A Treatise Concerning the Nature of Human Knowledge
Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Kant, Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics
Assumed Knowledge
PHIL1004 and PHIL1007 are recommended.
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $2718 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $3876 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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