PHIL 102 - History of Western Philosophy: Modern

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

An introductory-level course focusing on the philosophical systems of rationalists and empiricists. Philosophical areas of study include: epistemology (how is knowledge possible), metaphysics (what are the fundamental sources of reality), and ethics (what should one do, how should one act). Topics studied include: the criteria for knowledge and truth, along with the sources of error and falsehood; issues of selfhood, identity, and consciousness; the immortality and perishability of the soul; the relationship between soul and body; and analysis of morals, customs, and justice. Philosophers read include: René Descartes, Elizabeth of Bohemia, John Locke, George Berkeley, Baruch Spinoza, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Margaret Cavendish, and David Hume. Rebecca Harrison and Osman Nemli.

PHIL 101 is not a prerequisite for the course.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS