Spring 2019  |  PHIL 8090 Section 001: Seminar: History of Modern Philosophy (66503)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
Instructor Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
Topics Course
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/22/2019 - 05/06/2019
Wed 03:00PM - 05:30PM
UMTC, West Bank
Walter W Heller Hall 830
Enrollment Status:
Open (6 of 16 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
Topics vary by offering. prereq: instr consent
Class Notes:
"Understanding Locke's Essay" John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding was the single most widely read academic text in English for a full fifty years after its publication, and Locke's answers to important and currently debated philosophical issues are still cogent today. In fact, John Locke is known as the father of modern empiricism, and Locke's thoughts on persons paved the way to current theories of personal identity. In this course we will read Locke's magnum opus, and we will explore not only Locke's thoughts on nativism and personal identity, but also the role of language, the limits of knowledge, the dangers of enthusiasm, and the debate over substance dualism. Along the way, we will question whether Locke is rightly called an "empiricist," and the extent to which Locke is committed to the corpuscular hypothesis. The central objective of this course is to broaden and deepen our understanding of Locke's metaphysical and ontological commitments, within the framework of his epistemic modesty, while gaining a better appreciation for Locke's influence on current philosophical debates.* *Most of our focus will be on primary text reading (of the Essay), but we will supplement this reading with chapters from the forthcoming Lockean Mind volume I am co-editing for Routledge. This will not only give students access to the most up to date research being done on Locke and his influence, but also allow us to broaden our scope some, and consider topics such as Locke on children's rights, slavery, and religion. The Early Modern Interest Group (EMIG) housed in the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science will also be reading some of Locke's medical writings during the Spring 2019 semester. Graduate students are welcomed to attend EMIG as a complement to our seminar and expand their scope even further.
Class Description:
"Understanding Locke's Essay"
John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding was the single most widely read academic text in English for a full fifty years after its publication, and Locke's answers to important and currently debated philosophical issues are still cogent today. In fact, John Locke is known as the father of modern empiricism, and Locke's thoughts on persons paved the way to current theories of personal identity. In this course we will read Locke's magnum opus, and we will explore not only Locke's thoughts on nativism and personal identity, but also the role of language, the limits of knowledge, the dangers of enthusiasm, and the debate over substance dualism. Along the way, we will question whether Locke is rightly called an "empiricist," and the extent to which Locke is committed to the corpuscular hypothesis. The central objective of this course is to broaden and deepen our understanding of Locke's metaphysical and ontological commitments, within the framework of his epistemic modesty, while gaining a better appreciation for Locke's influence on current philosophical debates.*

*Most of our focus will be on primary text reading (of the Essay), but we will supplement this reading with chapters from the forthcoming Lockean Mind volume I am co-editing for Routledge. This will not only give students access to the most up to date research being done on Locke and his influence, but also allow us to broaden our scope some, and consider topics such as Locke on children's rights, slavery, and religion. The Early Modern Interest Group (EMIG) housed in the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science will also be reading some of Locke's medical writings during the Spring 2019 semester. Graduate students are welcomed to attend EMIG as a complement to our seminar and expand their scope even further.
Grading:
Participation and the final paper.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/66503/1193
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
30 October 2018

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