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PHILO 215(W), 051 [2203]/Prof. Moti Mizrahi/TTh 7:00-8:15pm
Foundations of Early Modern Philosophy
This course provides a historical survey of major philosophical
developments in metaphysics and epistemology from roughly the 16th
through the 18th century in Western Europe. We will read and discuss
some of the works of major Early Modern philosophers, such as
Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume, with special
focus on their views about methodology, the fundamental nature of
reality, the foundations and extent of knowledge, and natural
philosophy. We will try as much as possible to place the texts and
ideas of these thinkers in the intellectual and historical context in
which they emerged.
The official prerequisites for this course are ENGL 120 (PHILO 215 is
a writing intensive course) and one philosophy course
(101/103/104/106/201). The course will be taught at a level of rigor
and sophistication that assumes students have a background in the
methods and problems of philosophy. I strongly recommend taking Intro
to Logic & Critical Thinking, as well as Knowledge & Reality,
before
taking this course. Successfully completing PHILO 103 and PHILO 201
would be excellent preparation for this course. Students who are
worried about their readiness for this course are encouraged to
discuss this matter with me as soon as possible.
Required Textbook:
Required Textbook:
Roger Ariew & Eric Watkins (Eds.). (2009). Modern Philosophy: An
Anthology of Primary Sources. Second Edition. Indianapolis: Hackett
Publishing Company. ISBN-10: 0-87220-978-4. ISBN-13:
978-0-87220-978-7.
Estimated cost: $44.00 (paperback; from the publisher)
