17th and 18th Century Philosophy (PHIL 318)
Manchester University, Spring 2020 Instructor: Steve Naragon
Reading and Essay Schedule
Required Texts
• René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, 3rd ed., translated by Donald A. Cress (Hackett, 1993), 72 pp. [ISBN: (0-87220-192-9)/(978-0-87220-192-7)]
• John Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, abridged and edited, with an introduction, by Kenneth P. Winkler (Hackett, 1996), 416 pp. [ISBN: (0-87220-216-X)/(978-0-87220-216-0)]
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Discourse On Metaphysics and Other Essays, translated by Daniel Garber and Roger Ariew (Hackett, 1991), 96 pp. [ISBN: (0-87220-132-5)/(978-0-87220-132-3)]
• George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, edited by Robert M. Adams (Hackett, 1979), 137 pp. [ISBN: (0-915144-61-1)/(978-0-915144-61-7)]
• David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 2nd ed., edited by Eric Steinberg (Hackett, 1993), 151 pp. [ISBN: (0-87220-229-1)/(978-0-87220-229-0)]
• Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, translated by Werner Pluhar, abridged by Eric Watkins (Hackett, 1996), 229 pp. [ISBN: 0-87220-448-0)]
• Selections (either distributed in class or else available with links, below) from the works of Bacon, Hobbes, Spinoza, and Kant.
Wed, Jan 29
Inventing Modernity
Additional Material
• Article: Thomas Lennon, “Continental Rationalism” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Text: Michael Allen Gillespie, The Theological Origins of Modernity [selection]
• Text: John Herman Randall, The Making of the Modern Mind [Two Revolutions]
• Text: Naragon, “Science, Old and New” [from Aristotle to Galileo]
• Text: Finding Eternity in the Individual [Petrarch]
• Text: Selections from Burckhardt and Connell [The individual as portrayed in art]
Descartes to Leibniz
Fri, Jan 31
Descartes: Seeking a Foundation
Reading: René Descartes, “Meditation One” [pdf]
Essay: In his First Meditation, Descartes raises several reasons for doubting some of his beliefs. What are these reasons? Which beliefs are affected? And what is he trying to accomplish with this project? [rubric]
Additional Material
• PowerPoint: Introduction to Descartes [pdf]
• Article: Gary Hatfield, “René Descartes” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Article: Lex Newman, “Descartes’ Epistemology” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Video: Three Minute Descartes [video]
• Video: Mark Steel on Descartes: [1/3 (9m 24s)] [2/3 (9m 39s)] [3/3 (10m 8s)]
• Audio: Barry Stroud on Skepticism (Philosophy Bites)(12m 51s) [audio]
• Video: Descartes and the Matrix (1m 42s) [video]
Mon, Feb 3
Descartes: Reason vs the Senses
Reading: René Descartes, “Meditation Two”
Essay: In the Second Meditation, Descartes conducts an experiment with a piece of wax. What does he conclude from this experiment? [rubric]
Additional Material
• PowerPoint: Summary of Meds. 2-6 [pdf]
• Audio: A. C. Grayling on Descartes’ Cogito (Philosophy Bites)(12m 50s) [audio]
Wed, Feb 5
Descartes: God and Human Error
Reading: René Descartes, “Meditation Three and Four”
Essay: In the Third Meditation, Descartes offers two proofs of God’s existence. Describe and evaluate the first proof. [rubric]
Essay: Descartes’ discusses the problem of human error in the Fourth Meditation. Why does he stop to do this, and how does he resolve the problem? [rubric]
Fri, Feb 7
Descartes: God and Corporeal Nature
Reading: René Descartes, “Meditation Five”
Essay: Descartes claims, in his Fifth Meditation, that his ideas of material objects are innate. Why does he think this? What do you think? [rubric]
Mon, Feb 10
Descartes: Reclaiming the World
Reading: René Descartes, “Meditation Six”
Essay: Briefly explain the “New Problem of Error” introduced in the Sixth Meditation, and evaluate Descartes’ solution. How is it related to the problem of error discussed in the Fourth Meditation? [rubric]
Wed, Feb 11
Spinoza: God and Substance
Reading: Spinoza, Ethics, Bk. I [text]
Essay: In your own words, summarize Spinoza’s understanding of God. What motivates this view? [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Stephen Nadler, “Baruch Spinoza” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Video: Anthony Quinton on Spinoza and Leibniz [video]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Spinoza: PDF files of Ethics and Treatise on Theology and Politics [links]
Fri, Feb 14
Spinoza, Ethics: Mind and Body
Reading: Spinoza, Ethics, Bk. I [text]
Essay: Briefly discuss Spinoza’s view of final causation. Be sure to cite your supporting passages from the Ethics, pt. 1 (appendix and elsewhere). [rubric]
Mon, Feb 17
Spinoza, Ethics: Knowledge
Reading: Spinoza, Ethics, Bk. II [text]
Essay: Compare the mind-body relationship as explained by Descartes and by Spinoza. [rubric]
Wed, Feb 19
Leibniz: Truth and Reason
Reading: Leibniz, Discourse on Metaphysics
Essay: Reflect on Leibniz’s Discourse on Metaphysics (§§8-9) and Monadology (§33), and then explain what Leibniz is claiming here. [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Brandon Look, “Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Leibniz: PDF files of many texts, including his Discourse on Metaphysics, Principles of Nature and Grace, and Monadology [links]
Fri, Feb 21
Leibniz: Monads
Reading: Leibniz, Monadology
Essay: Describe Leibniz’s view of causation, as based on a close reading of Discourse (§14) and Monadology (§7). [rubric]
Mon, Feb 24
First Exam [study guide]
Hobbes to Hume
Wed, FEb 26
Bacon: The New Science
Reading: Bacon, “Aphorisms” from the Novum Organum (1620) [text]
Essay: What is an “idol of the mind” (as Bacon uses the term)? By way of examples, explain Bacon’s account of the idols of the mind. [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Juergen Klein, “Francis Bacon” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Audio: Baconian Science (BBC, In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg)(42m 13s) [audio]
Fri, Feb 28
Hobbes: Science and Nature
Reading: Hobbes, Leviathan, introduction and Pt. 1, chs. 1 & 6 [text]
Essay: Hobbes draws an analogy in the opening paragraph of his Leviathan. Explain this analogy, and then evaluate it. Do you find it compelling? Problematic? [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Stewart Duncan, “Thomas Hobbes” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Hobbes: PDF files from Leviathan [links]
Mon, Mar 2
Hobbes: Psychology and Politics
Reading: Hobbes, Leviathan, Pt. I, chs. 11, 13-14; Pt. II, chs. 17-18, 21 [see PDF file from above]
Essay: Briefly outline Hobbes’ argument as to why we should abandon the natural state and relinquish some of our power to a sovereign. Are you convinced? [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Sharon Lloyd and Susanne Sreedhar, “Thomas Hobbes’s Moral and Political Philosophy” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
Wed, Mar 4
Locke: Innate Ideas
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. I, chs. 1-2.
Essay: What sort of ideas does Descartes believe that we have innately, and why does he think this? Do Locke’s arguments give us good reason to reject Descartes’ claims? [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: William Uzgalis, “John Locke” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Video: Michael Ayers on Locke (Brian Magee interview) [video]
• Video: Three Minute Locke [video]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Locke: PDF files of Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Second Treatise of Government [links]
Fri, Mar 6
Locke: Ideas and Qualities
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. II, ch. 1-9.
Essay: How does Locke define and distinguish ideas and qualities? Be sure to examine a few examples of each. [rubric]
Mon, Mar 9
Locke: Simple and Complex Ideas
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. II, chs. 10-14.
Essay: What does Locke claim about simple and complex ideas? Examples? [rubric]
Wed, Mar 11-Fri, Mar 13 — No Class
—————Spring Break!—————
Mon, Mar 23 – COVID-19 disruption
Wed, Mar 25
Locke: Words and Things
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. III, chs. 1-3.
Essay: How does Locke define real and nominal essence? Examples? [rubric]
Fri, Mar 27
Locke: Knowledge ...
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. IV, chs. 1, 9-10.
Essay: What does it mean to know something, according to Locke? What sorts of things can we know? [rubric]
Mon, Mar 30
Locke: ... and its Limits
Reading: Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Bk. IV, ch. 11.
Essay: Explain the difference that Locke draws between knowledge of myself, of God, and of physical objects. [rubric]
Wed, Apr 1
Berkeley: Immaterialism
Reading: George Berkeley, Three Dialogues, “First Dialogue”
Essay: What does Berkeley mean when he claims that matter does not exist? Be sure to illustrate your discussion with some examples. [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: Lisa Downing, “George Berkeley” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Website: Whitehall Museum House (Berkeley’s residence in Rhode Island) [web]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Berkeley: PDF files of Principles of Human Knowledge, Three Dialogues, and Alciphron [links]
Fri, Apr 3
Berkeley: God
Reading: George Berkeley, Three Dialogues, “Second Dialogue”
Essay: Describe and evaluate Berkeley’s argument for God’s existence and nature. How does this god differ from the evil demon in Descartes’s “First Meditation”? [rubric]
Mon, Apr 6
Berkeley: Science
Reading: George Berkeley, Three Dialogues, “Third Dialogue”
Essay: Philonous claims that immaterialism is closer to common sense than materialism. What do you think? [rubric]
Wed, Apr 8
Hume: Ideas and Impressions
Reading: David Hume, Inquiry, §2-3
Essay: Compare Locke and Hume on their accounts of the origin and nature of sensible ideas. [rubric]
Additional Material
• Article: William Morris, “David Hume” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]
• Text: Introductory Notes on Hume (Naragon) [pdf]
• PDF: Introductory Quotes from Hume [pdf]
• Video: Three Minute Hume [video]
• Video: BBC special on Hume [video]
• Video: John Passmore on Hume (Brian Magee interview) [video]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Hume: PDF files of the Treatise of Human Nature, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion [links]
Fri, Apr 10 – Good Friday
Mon, Apr 13
Hume: Relations of Ideas and Matters of Fact
Reading: David Hume, Inquiry, §4
Essay: Explain Hume’s account of causation, and why he thinks it is illusory. [rubric]
Wed, Apr 15
Hume: Naturalism
Reading: David Hume, Inquiry, §5
Essay: What is naturalism, and in what sense does this characterize Hume’s thought? [Not sure about what naturalism is? This article might help.] [rubric]
Fri, Apr 17
Hume: Necessary Connection
Reading: David Hume, Inquiry, §7
Essay: What does Hume mean by ‘power’ or ‘necessary connection’? Whence does this idea arise? [rubric]
Mon, Apr 20
Hume: Miracles
Reading: David Hume, Inquiry, §10
Essay: Explain and evaluate Hume’s argument for rejecting miraculous claims. [rubric]
Wed, Apr 22
Second Exam [study guide]
Kant
Fri, Apr 25
Kant: The Revolutionary
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, Preface A and B, Introduction.
Essay: What is revolutionary about Kant’s “Copernican revolution”? Why is a critique of pure reason needed, and what is this critique supposed to accomplish? [rubric]
Additional Material
• Text: Brief Outline to Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason [pdf]
• Text: Matt McCormick, “Immanuel Kant: Metaphysics” [IEP]
• Text: Paul Guyer, “Immanuel Kant: Metaphysics” [Routledge]
• Audio: Adrian Moore explains Kant’s Metaphysics (Philosophy Bites)(19m 58s) [audio]
• Video: Kant and the Matrix (1m 56s) [video]
• Web: Kant’s Writings [web]
• Text: Naragon, “Kant’s Life.” The Palgrave Kant Handbook (2017) [pdf]
• Web: Kant’s Life [web]
• Video: Three Minute Kant [video]
• Video: Geoffrey Warnock on Kant (Brian Magee interview) [video]
• Texts: Jonathan Bennett’s texts from Kant: PDF files of several texts, including parts of the Critique of Pure Reason, Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics, Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morality, and Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science [links]
Mon, Apr 27
Kant: On Space and Time
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, Transcendental Aesthetic (B33-58).
Essay: Why does Kant believe that space and time are a priori intuitions? Frame your explanation in terms that a bright twelve-year old might understand. [rubric]
Additional Material
• Video: “Are Space and Time an Illusion?” SpaceTime, produced by PBS Digital Studios [YouTube]
Wed, Apr 29
Kant: On Concepts
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (B74-76, 89-95, 102-9).
Essay: Briefly describe and evaluate Kant’s metaphysical deduction of the categories. Are you convinced? [rubric]
Fri, May 1
Kant: The Transcendental Deduction
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (B116-69).
Essay: What does Kant mean by ‘transcendental unity of apperception’, and what role does this unity play in the Transcendental Deduction? [rubric]
Mon, May 4
Kant: The Analytic of Principles
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (B198-256).
Essay: Briefly describe Kant’s “Second Analogy”. Does this answer Hume’s worries about causation? [rubric]
Wed, May 6
Kant: The Paralogisms
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (B274-79, 350-55, 362-66, 406-413).
Essay: What is the self, according to Kant? How does his account of the self compare with Descartes’ account? [rubric]
Fri, May 8
Kant: The Antinomies
Reading: Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (B432-37, 448-79).
Essay: Choose any of the four antinomies. Explain why Kant believes that it is an antinomy. Do you find both arguments compelling? [rubric]
Third Exam [study guide]
Online through Canvas,
due Friday, May 15, 11:59 p.m.
The exam will be available on Canvas beginning Sunday, May 10, 12:00 a.m. You will have two hours to complete the exam, once you open it.
Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 24 Mar 2020