PHIL5295 · Philosophy

Modern Philosophy

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

From the early 17 th to the end of the 18 th century, reason asserted its autonomy and triumphed in the Age of Enlightenment, but at the same time reflected on its own limits. Through a series of themes and problems, the course presents the major philosophies (roughly, from Descartes to Kant) that have accompanied the development of scientific knowledge, the rise of the modern mind, and the transformation of Western societies. This comprehensive survey covers metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy, paying attention to the interconnection between ideas in these different domains (with for instance the centrality of the notion of law: laws of nature, political laws, moral law). It particularly highlights the logical development in the succession of questions and answers that characterize the evolution of philosophy in the modern times. The course will provide you with the central concepts of modern thought, so as to grasp the bases of today understanding of the world and of ourselves. Analysis of representative texts, class discussions, and writing assignments are designed to develop rigorous argumentation and expression skills. (NB: This course was previously offered as PHIL 4406; you cannot take it if you took PHIL 4406)