Survey of Western Philosophy II
(Modern Philosophy)
Webster University
Spring 1997
PHIL 2520 Tu, Th 10:00-11:20 Pearson House 3
Dr. Bruce Umbaugh
office: Pearson House basement phone: 961-2660 x7826 (office)
office hours: Tu 3:00-4:00 968-7170 (PHIL office)
Th 11:15-11:45
and by appointment
Course Description:
This is an introductory survey of the main ideas of leading Western thinkers from the 17th to the 19th centuries. We seek to emphasize (a) the historical development of philosophical positions (especially the articulation of views in reaction to the ideas of others) and (b) the systematic nature of philosophical positions (especially how a philosopher's ideas about, say, knowledge, or the nature of reality, impinge on his or her views about, say, art or ethics). Classes will proceed by lecture and discussion.
The course is a continuation of PHIL 2510, although that course is not a prerequisite for this one. PHIL 2520 meets the University's General Education Goals for History and Humanities.
Textbooks:
Course Schedule:
January
14: Introduction.
16: Copernicus. Read excerpts in Matthews.
21: Galileo. Read excerpts in Matthews.
23: Descartes. Read Meditations on First Philosophy, entire, in Cahn. Exercise due.
28: Descartes.
30: Descartes. Read Discourse on Method, and Principles, as excerpted in Matthews.
February
4: Hobbes. Read Leviathan, Part One, Chs. 1-3 and 6, in Cahn. Exercise due.
6: Hobbes. Read Leviathan, remainder as excerpted, in Cahn
11: Spinoza. Read Ethics, as excerpted in Cahn.
13: Boyle. Read in Matthews.
18: Locke. Read in Cahn. Exercise due.
20: Locke.
25: Locke. Review.
27: Exam.
March
4: Leibniz. Read Discourse on Metaphysics and Monadology in Cahn.
6: Leibniz.
11: Spring recess. No class meeting.
13: Spring recess. No class meeting.
18: Leibniz and Newton.
20: Newton. Read excerpts in Matthews. Exercise due.
25: Newton.
27: Berkeley. Read A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, Part I (after the Introduction), Secs. 1-33, in Cahn, and from handout. Exercise due.
April
1: Berkeley. Read Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, in Cahn.
3: Berkeley.
8: Berkeley. Read Alciphron, excerpts, handout.
10: Hume. Read Enquiry, Sects. I-V, in Cahn.
15: Hume. Read Enquiry, Sects. VI-VII and IX. Exercise due.
17: Hume. Read Enquiry, Sects. X and XII. Review.
22: Exam.
24: Kant. Read Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics, Preface, and §§ 14, 18-22, and 27-38.
29: Kant. Exercise due.
May
1: Kant. Read Prolegomena, §§ 45-60.
6: 8:30-10:00 a.m. Kant. Retrospect and prospect. Exam due.
Grading:
Written exercises 40%
In-class exams (2) 45%
Take-home exam 15%
There will be three essay examinations--two completed in class and one as a take-home. Exams will cover both readings and lecture material. Altogether, they account for sixty percent of the grade. Written exercises will stress analytical thinking and exegesis of relevant bits of original text. These exercises account for forty percent of the course grade.
Make-up exams will be given only if I am notified in advance of your absence, and only on presentation of a valid, written excuse. Late written exercises will be accepted one day late, under similar conditions. Attendance is, strictly speaking, not required. Nonetheless, students are encouraged to attend every class. There is ordinarily some correlation between active attendance and good grades in a class such as this one. It should go without saying that much information will be presented in class that is not to be found easily in our assigned texts.
Final grades will be determined according to the percentage of total points accrued during the semester. The distribution of grades might justify "curving" the grade scale slightly. Even so, from my experience, it is unlikely that a score much below 90% will earn any form of "A," and it is highly unlikely that a score below 50% will earn any form of passing grade. Precise cut-off points will depend on the distribution of scores among class members.
I will hold regular office hours at the times listed at the top of this syllabus, and I am around Pearson House often during the week. I can also be reached via e-mail (bumbaugh@websteruniv.edu). Although I will make myself available to help students outside of class, students who do not attend class meetings should not expect to be rewarded with intensive assistance. Finally, note that I reserve the right to reward students who have attended class faithfully and displayed significant effort.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
You are adults, attending a university. I expect you to behave responsibly. Students in this class are expected to do their own work and not to rely on the work of others. Students are welcome to work with one another to understand the material, but any student plagiarizing, cheating on an exam, aiding another student to cheat, or committing any other act of academic dishonesty will be referred for appropriate disciplinary action. Please consult with me if you have questions in this regard, either about your own work or that of another person.