Admission requirements
Admission to this course is restricted to:
- BA students in Philosophy, enrolled in the Global and Comparative Perspectives track.
Description
This course will focus on the history of philosophy in 17th and 18th century Europe, a period commonly known as ‘modern philosophy’. Early 17th century thinkers like Bacon, Hobbes and Descartes saw themselves as making an important break with the previous philosophical tradition; and their ideas set off a flurry of activity which included such figures as Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz and Hume. We will follow the central strands of their thought up to the culminating figure of Kant at the end of the 18th century.
Throughout, the aim of the course will be to both familiarise the student with the ideas and texts of the most important philosophers of the era, and to put these ideas and texts in a larger context. We will pay special attention to the more theoretical disciplines of epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy of science, where the most crucial developments take place; ethics, however, will also not be entirely neglected.
Course objectives
This course aims to introduce students to key figures and themes in European philosophy from Descartes to Kant.
Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:
central problems, themes and concepts in modern European philosophy, in particular in the fields of epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of science and philosophy of mind;
how these problems are addressed by a number of key figures;
the relations between these problems and the historical conditions to which they respond, including the development of scientific disciplines and methodologies.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
identify the central ideas of Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Hume and Kant, as well as certain ideas of other philosophers;
read selected primary texts with an eye to distilling the most important ideas and arguments from them;
give clear and structured written answers to questions about problems, themes and concepts in modern European philosophy.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the following website:
BA Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives BA1
Mode of instruction
- Lectures
Course load
Total course load 5 EC x 28 hours =140 hours
Attending lectures: 13 x 3 hours = 39 hours
Assessment: 2 + 3 = 5 hours
Study of compulsory literature: 13 x 5 = 65 hours
Preparation exams: 31 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Mid-term sitting exam with closed and open questions (40%)
Final sitting exam with closed and open questions (60%)
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average of two subtests (midterm, final test). A subtest can be graded as unsatisfactory.
Resit
The resit consists of one examination for all parts at once, consisting of sitting exam covering the entire course content. The mark for the resit will replace all previously earned marks for subtests. No separate resits will be offered for mid-term tests.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
- information
Reading list
Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources, Third Edition, Roger Ariew en Eric Watkins, Hackett Publishing Co. ISBN: 9781624668050
The Rise of Modern Philosophy, Anthony Kenny, Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780198752769
Important note
You can buy the Kenny book in a digital format, if you prefer, but the anthology of Ariew and Watkins must be brought to the exams as a paper object. Make sure you have the new Third Edition.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website
Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetables for courses and exams.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
Not applicable.