History of Modern Philosophy: Epistemology (PHIL 10088) Pauline Phemister

Transcription

1 History of Modern Philosophy: Epistemology (PHIL 10088) Pauline Phemister Semester 2 Mondays, Dugald Stewart Building, Room G.06 The course will introduce students to epistemological themes prevalent in the early modern period. It will be attractive to students interested in studying the history of philosophy and to those with an interest in epistemology and in the philosophy of mind and language. Themes explored include sources of knowledge, scepticism, methodology, the nature and content of ideas, language and truth. These topics will be addressed through critical engagement in the debates on these issues found in the writings of the early modern philosophers, Descartes, Spinoza, Malebranche, Leibniz and Locke. Assessment The course will be assessed by one mid-semester essay of approximately 2,000 words (30%), due by 4pm on Thursday 1st March 2012 and a final closedbook examination (70%). Essay titles: Choose one of the questions from the questions pertaining to the tutorial up to and including week 6. Bibliography Most of the primary texts for this course are available on the Past Masters database, which is accessible through the Main library database collection. Training on the use of this database will be given in the first seminar. Primary Texts J. Cottingham, ed., Descartes: philosophical writings, vols. 1 & 2 (Cambridge University Press) [Past Masters] Edwin Curley, ed., The Collected Works of Spinoza, vol. 1 (Princeton University Press) [Past Masters] Thomas M. Lennon & Paul J. Olscamp. trs. Malebranche: The Search after Truth (Cambridge University Press) Nicholas Jolley & David Scott, trs. & eds. Malebranche: Dialogues on Metaphysics and Religion (Cambridge University Press) Daniel Garber & Roger Ariew, eds., G. W. Leibniz: Philosophical Essays (Hackett) [Past Masters] John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. P. Phemister, Oxford World s Classics (Oxford University Press)

2 Additional primary texts you may want to consult (all are available in the Main University library central collection or in the Haldane Library): Elmar J. Kremer, tr. On True and False Ideas (Arnauld) R. Popkin, tr. & ed. Pierre Bayle: Historical and Critical Dictionary Selected Secondary Texts (not exhaustive): Books P. Alexander, Ideas, Qualities and Corpuscles R. C. Church, A study in the philosophy of Malebranche H. G. Frankfurt, Demons, Dreamers and Madmen S. Hampshire, Spinoza N. Jolley, The light of the soul: theories of ideas in Leibniz, Malebranche and Descartes (electronic resource) G. Lloyd, Spinoza and the Ethics Robert McRae, Leibniz: Perception, Apperception and Thought J. L. Mackie, Problems from Locke S. Nadler, Arnauld and the Cartesian philosophy of ideas S. Nadler, Spinoza: a life S. Nadler, Spinoza s Ethics : an introduction G. H. R. Parkinson, Spinoza's Theory of Knowledge P. Phemister, The Rationalists: Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz R.H. Popkin, The History of scepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza R. H. Popkin, Spinoza A. Pyle, Malebranche M. Wilson, Descartes R. S. Woolhouse, Locke's Philosophy of Science and Knowledge J. Yolton, John Locke and the Way of Ideas J. Yolton, Perceptual Acquaintance from Descartes to Reid Articles (and some collected editions) are indicated in the weekly readings below. When relevant, extra references may be given in class. Students should note that articles can also located via the online database, Philosophers Index. Provisional Lecture outline 1. Introduction 2. Empiricism and Rationalism 3. Scepticism: Descartes 4. Methodology: Descartes 5. Methodology: Leibniz 6. Ideas: introduction 7. Ideas and Truth: Spinoza 8. Vision in God: Malebranche 9. Ideas: Locke 10. Language: Locke 11. Innate ideas: Leibniz

3 Seminar Outline 1. Induction session on Past Masters Database 2. Empiricism and Rationalism Question: How defensible is the characterisation of Descartes, Spinoza, Malebranche and Leibniz as rationalists and Locke as an empiricist? G. H. R. Parkinson, Spinoza s Theory of Knowledge, chapter 1 Descartes, Meditations 1 & 2 Locke, Essay, II.i.4 and Essay IV.ix.3 Extra reading: Spinoza, Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect [Past Masters] G. H. R. Parkinson, Spinoza s Theory of Knowledge, chapter 2 3. Scepticism Question: How successfully does Descartes counter scepticism in its various forms? Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, Meditations 1, 2, 6, though others also relevant. Bayle, P, Historical and Critical Dictionary, entry on Pyrrho, note B and entry on Zeno of Elea, note H, in R. H. Popkin, ed. & tr., Pierre Bayle, Historical and Critical Dictionary: Selections, pp , esp. pp & pp Methodology: Descartes Question: Does Descartes adhere strictly to his own methodological rules in his Meditations on First Philosophy? Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, meditations 1-6. Descartes Discourse on Metaphysics 5. Methodology: Leibniz Question: Can Leibniz derive his philosophical system only from the Principle of Contradiction and the Principle of Sufficient Reason? Leibniz, On Contingency Leibniz, Primary Truths Additional Reading: Leibniz, Principles of Philosophy, or Monadology,

4 Leibniz, Correspondence with Clarke, Leibniz s second to fifth letters (found in section on Newton in Ariew and Garber, Philosophical Essays [Past Masters] 6. Ideas: Introduction Question: What are ideas? Do they aid or do they hinder the pursuit of truth? Reading: Robert McRae, ( Idea as a philosophical term in the seventeenth century, Journal of the History of Ideas, 26 (2) (1965), JSTOR: Pauline Phemister, Ideas in Desmond M. Clarke and Catherine Wilson, Oxford Handbook of Philosophy in Early Modern Europe, chapter 7. Additional Reading Nicholas Jolley, The Light of the Soul: Theories of Ideas in Leibniz, Malebranche, and Descartes, chapter 1 7. Ideas and Truth: Spinoza Question: What does Spinoza mean when he declares that ideas are modes of the divine attribute of thought? Is he right? Spinoza: Ethics Parts I, II and V. T. C. Mark, Truth and Adequacy in Spinozistic Ideas, in Robert W. Shahan and J. I. Biro, Spinoza: New Perspectives, pp G. H.R. Parkinson, Truth is its Own Standard : Aspects of Spinoza s Theory of Truth, in Robert W. Shahan and J. I. Biro, Spinoza: New Perspectives, pp S. Paul Kashap, Spinoza s Use of Idea, in Robert W. Shahan and J. I. Biro, Spinoza: New Perspectives, pp Additional Reading S. Hampshire, Spinoza and Spinozism G. H. R. Parkinson, Spinoza s Theory of Knowledge, chapter 6. Reprinted in S. Paul Kashap, Studies in Spinoza: critical and interpretive essays, pp Pierre Bayle, Spinoza in R. Popkin, tr. & ed. Pierre Bayle: Critical and Historical Dictionary. 8. Vision in God: Malebranche Question: What is meant by Malebranche s claim that we see all things in God? Do you agree? Nicolas Malebranche, Dialogues on Metaphysics and Religion, Dialogues 1, 2 & 7.

5 Steven Nadler, Malebranche and Ideas, chapter 4 Andrew Pyle, Malebranche, chapter 3 Additional readings: Nicolas Malebranche, Search after Truth, Book 1, chapter 1 (Lennon & Olscamp, pp. 1-6); Book 3, Part 2, chapters 1-6 (Lennon & Olscamp, pp ); Elucidation 10 (Lennon & Olscamp, pp ) 9. Ideas: Locke Question: Do all our ideas derive from experience? John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding, Book 2, chapters 1-13, 23, (the chapters are short) 10. Language: Locke Question: Are abstract ideas the workmanship of the understanding? If they are, is knowledge possible? John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding, Book 3, chapters, 1-6, Book 4, chapters 1-3, 6, 11 and Innate ideas: Leibniz Question: What is the philosophical significance of Leibniz s espousal of innate ideas? Leibniz, New Essays, Preface Nicholas Jolley, The Light of the Soul, chapters 9 and 10. Extensions Students are expected to monitor their workload, be aware of all deadlines and be able to organise themselves accordingly. Extension requests should be submitted before the submission deadline. They must be submitted to the Teaching Office for approval, and must include details of the assessment(s) affected and length of extension requested, together with supporting evidence if required. Other than in exceptional circumstances, extensions will only be granted in cases of illness or family emergency. If students are seeking extensions for more than one week, they must provide medical evidence and/or discuss the request with the Student Support Officer. Extension requests due to time mismanagement, personal computing/printing problems or ignorance of deadline will not be accepted. The Teaching Office will the student to tell them whether the extension has been granted. The decision conveyed in this is final; if students feel that they have been unfairly denied an extension they should make a case to

6 the special circumstances committee for the removal of late submission penalties at the examination board. Retrospective extensions will not be granted. However, late submission penalties may be waived if a student requests an extension on the day of the submission deadline but cannot get medical evidence until some days later. Extensions include weekends and University holidays. If an extended deadline falls on a weekend, the work should be submitted by 9:30am on the next working day (i.e., work which would be due at 4pm on Saturday due to an extension should be submitted by 9:30am on the following Monday). Students with Adjustment Schedules Extension requests from students with adjustment schedules that allow 'short notice extensions' will be treated sympathetically where possible. Students should however be prepared to give a reason for the extension request; simply citing an adjustment schedule is not an adequate reason. If students are seeking extensions for more than one week, they must provide medical evidence and/or discuss the request with the Student Support Officer. Special Circumstances Students may apply for consideration of special circumstances if they feel that events out with their control have resulted in poor exam performance in comparison to their previous coursework record or even missing an exam. These circumstances most commonly include illness or bereavement but can be submitted for a variety of issues. It is the student s responsibility to complete a Special Circumstances form giving as much detail as possible and providing supporting evidence. All submissions must be accompanied by medical or other documentation. Innovative Learning Week In the academic year the University is having an extra week of teaching in Semester 2: Innovative Learning Week, February Normal teaching slots will be suspended and in their place will be a range of other activities such as master classes, a research day, a science fair, a Gaelic festival and guest lectures. More information will follow nearer the time so please check the School website where details will be available at february-2012