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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the evolution of Western philosophical thought from the late Renaissance
through the Enlightenment period.
2. Describe how the views of the philosophers of this period reflected the historical
and cultural contexts of the time.
3. Interpret and critique representative samples of the most significant philosophical
literature of this period (e.g. Descartes' Meditations, Hobbes' Leviathan,
Berkeley's Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, Locke's an Essay Concerning
Human Understanding, Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,
Spinoza's Ethics, Kant's Prolegamena and Marx's Das Kapital).
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1. Introduction
A. The transition from the late Renaissance to the end of the Enlightenment
B. Modern period (the Renaissance, religion and science)
2. Rene Descartes
A. The method of doubt
B. Cogito
C. Rationalism
D. Mind
E. God
F. Matter
3. Thomas Hobbes
A. Mechanistic materialism
B. Egoism
C. State of nature
D. Social contract
4. Baruch Spinoza
A. Monism
B. Pantheism
C. Rationalism
D. Psychology
E. Ethics
5. Gottfried Leibniz
A. Logic
B. Principle of sufficient reason
C. Pre-established harmony
D. God
E. Monads
6. John Locke
A. Origins of empiricism
B. Origins of modern political liberalism
7. George Berkeley
A. Immaterialism
B. Empiricism
C. Philosophy of religion
8. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
A. Ethics
B. State of nature
C. Social Contract
9. David Hume
A. Empiricism
B. Critique of causality
C. Induction and personal identity
D. Religion
E. Ethics
10. Immanuel Kant
A. Synthetic a priori judgments
B. Space
C. Time
D. Categories of the understanding
E. The categorical imperative
F. Freedom
G. God
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1. Regular reading assignments 20-50 pages from primary sources, course texts
and/or supplementary materials.
2. 10-20 learning assessments the cover the assigned readings.
3. Term paper(s) of 2500 to 5000 words in which philosophical issues raised
in class are explored.
4. At least two mid-term examinations. Students must write in-class essays in response
to questions on material covered in class and in texts.
5. A final examination including written essay(s) in response to questions on material
covered in class and in texts.
6. Participation in class discussions.
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STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT BUY TEXTBOOKS before checking with the SRJC Bookstore.
These titles are representative only, and may not be the same ones used in your class.
Check availability and pricing. <http://bookstore.santarosa.edu/santarosa/SelectTermDept.aspx>
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Locke, John. Prometheus Books: 1995
Classics of Western Philosophy (8th Edition), Cahn, Steven M. Hackett Publishing Co: 2012
David Hume Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 2nd ed., Ed. Steinberg, Eric. Hackett: 1993
Descartes' Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, 4th Ed.. Tr .Cress, Donald A. Hackett: 1999
The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy (6th Edition). Melchert, Norman. Oxford University Press: 2010
A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. Fieser, James and Lillegard, Norman. Oxford University Press: 2002. (Classic)
Kant's Prolegamena to Any Future Metaphysics: With Selections from the Critique of Pure Reason, ed. Hatfield, Gary. Cambridge: 1997
Leviathan. Hobbes, Thomas. Seven Treasures Pub.: 2009
Philosophy: History and Problems, 7th ed. Stumpf, Samuel Enoch and Fieser, James. McGraw Hill: 2008
Spinoza's Ethics, Tr. Curley, Edwin. Penguin Classics: 2005
Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous. Berkeley, George. Hackett: 1979