PHIL331 Early Modern Philosophy A: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz

Overview

The central issues in the philosophy of Descartes and its subsequent impact on the philosophy of Spinoza and Leibniz.

About this paper

Prerequisite

One 200-level PHIL paper

Restriction

PHIL 201, PHIL 220, PHIL 231, PHIL 320

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Contact

michael.lebuffe@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Philosophy programme's website.

Teaching staff

Course co-ordinator and lecturer: Professor Michael LeBuffe

Paper Structure

There will be two 1.5-hour classes per week. Each class will include both lecture and discussion. The paper will begin with a close reading of some of Descartes's central works, emphasising the Meditations together with some important correspondence. Important doctrines include:

• Cartesian structuralism
• The place of sense experience in Cartesian epistemology
• A priori knowledge and its place in Cartesian science
• The Cartesian circle
• The role of God in Cartesian epistemology and metaphysics
• The mind/body relation
• The transparency of the mental
• Descartes's theory of error

We will then turn to Spinoza's Ethics. Spinoza uses Cartesian terminology and clearly takes up some Cartesian themes. We will examine the extent to which Spinoza is a Cartesian. Important doctrines include:

• Monism
• The theory of attributes
• The substance/mode relation
• Naturalism
• Necessitarianism
• Determinism
• Spinoza's critique of traditional religion
• The adequacy of ideas
• The three kinds of knowledge
• The critique of free will

The last third of the paper will be devoted to several works of Leibniz, a critic of both Descartes and Spinoza. Leibniz is sometimes presented as a great reconciler of pre-Cartesian scholastic philosophy and Cartesian views. We will test this thesis. Important doctrines include:

• The principle of sufficient reason
• The best of all possible worlds hypothesis
• The concept containment theory of truth
• Pre-established harmony
• The theory of monads

Assessment:

• Two essays 30% each
• Exercises 10%
• Examination 30%

Different exams will be offered to PHIL 231 and PHIL 331 students and different standards will apply to the assessment of papers.

Teaching Arrangements

After the first, introductory class, each section will include discussion of central issues of continuing interest. Discussion will be followed by lecture introducing new material. This structure may vary as needs of the paper dictate.

Textbooks

• Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, (trans. John Cottingham), Cambridge University Press, 978-1107665736.
• A Spinoza Reader, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0691000671.
• G.W. Leibniz, Philosophical Texts, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0198751533.

Other, complementary readings will be distributed electronically or in class.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:

• Present, criticise and defend the positions and central arguments of Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz
• Demonstrate understanding and correct use of philosophical concepts involved in the paper
• Explain different accounts of the relation between scientific practices in 17th-century Europe and the authors' positions in metaphysics and epistemology
• Explain different accounts of the relation between religious practices in 17th-century Europe and the authors' positions in metaphysics and epistemology
• Demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of central course texts in English translations
• Use texts effectively in written interpretative argument

Timetable

Overview

The central issues in the philosophy of Descartes and its subsequent impact on the philosophy of Spinoza and Leibniz.

About this paper

Prerequisite

One 200-level PHIL paper

Restriction

PHIL 201, PHIL 220, PHIL 231, PHIL 320

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Contact

michael.lebuffe@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Philosophy programme's website.

Teaching staff

Course co-ordinator and lecturer: Professor Michael LeBuffe

Paper Structure

There will be two 1.5-hour classes per week. Each class will include both lecture and discussion. The paper will begin with a close reading of some of Descartes's central works, emphasising the Meditations together with some important correspondence. Important doctrines include:

• Cartesian structuralism
• The place of sense experience in Cartesian epistemology
• A priori knowledge and its place in Cartesian science
• The Cartesian circle
• The role of God in Cartesian epistemology and metaphysics
• The mind/body relation
• The transparency of the mental
• Descartes's theory of error

We will then turn to Spinoza's Ethics. Spinoza uses Cartesian terminology and clearly takes up some Cartesian themes. We will examine the extent to which Spinoza is a Cartesian. Important doctrines include:

• Monism
• The theory of attributes
• The substance/mode relation
• Naturalism
• Necessitarianism
• Determinism
• Spinoza's critique of traditional religion
• The adequacy of ideas
• The three kinds of knowledge
• The critique of free will

The last third of the paper will be devoted to several works of Leibniz, a critic of both Descartes and Spinoza. Leibniz is sometimes presented as a great reconciler of pre-Cartesian scholastic philosophy and Cartesian views. We will test this thesis. Important doctrines include:

• The principle of sufficient reason
• The best of all possible worlds hypothesis
• The concept containment theory of truth
• Pre-established harmony
• The theory of monads

Assessment:

• Two essays 30% each
• Exercises 10%
• Examination 30%

Different exams will be offered to PHIL 231 and PHIL 331 students and different standards will apply to the assessment of papers.

Teaching Arrangements

After the first, introductory class, each section will include discussion of central issues of continuing interest. Discussion will be followed by lecture introducing new material. This structure may vary as needs of the paper dictate.

Textbooks

• Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, (trans. John Cottingham), Cambridge University Press, 978-1107665736.
• A Spinoza Reader, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0691000671.
• G.W. Leibniz, Philosophical Texts, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0198751533.

Other, complementary readings will be distributed electronically or in class.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:

• Present, criticise and defend the positions and central arguments of Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz
• Demonstrate understanding and correct use of philosophical concepts involved in the paper
• Explain different accounts of the relation between scientific practices in 17th-century Europe and the authors' positions in metaphysics and epistemology
• Explain different accounts of the relation between religious practices in 17th-century Europe and the authors' positions in metaphysics and epistemology
• Demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of central course texts in English translations
• Use texts effectively in written interpretative argument

Timetable