The early modern period in European philosophy is characterized by a connection between attempts to respond to the skeptical challenge to the possibility of human knowledge, and attempts to develop and sustain a new scientific method for studying the natural world. In this course, our discussions will explore epistemological and metaphysical questions and debates arising from these efforts. We will focus our attention upon work by Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley and Hume, seeking to identify connections between their writing as well as understanding the reasons for their disagreements. The course will adopt an historical approach. We will identify what some of the main epistemological and metaphysical problems of the early modern period are, and consider whether or not different philosophers’ accounts of, and responses to, these problems are defensible. At the same time, we will also explore why these problems arose as they did, paying attention to their historical context.

Students will need to bring the following textbook to each class: Roger Ariew & Eric Watkins (eds.), Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources, (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1998).  ISBN-13: 978-0872204409. Suggested retail price: $38.95.