Provisional Syllabus

Phil. 126, Spring 2018
Prof. K. DeRose
Modern Philosophy, Descartes to Kant
T, Th 10:30-11:20, LC 317; disc 1

Course Description: An introduction to some major figures in the history of modern philosophy, with critical readings of Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, and Kant. Intended to be taken in conjunction with PHIL 125a, although PHIL 125a is not a prerequisite.

Discussion Sections: Each student should sign up for and attend one of the discussion sections that meet weekly, and will be led by one of the course’s teaching fellows. Section attendance is mandatory.  Sections will begin meeting the week of Jan. 23/25. Instructors and times (and, added on 1/18, rooms):
A. Glasscock, Tu 3:30-4:20, YK220 002
A. Glasscock, Tu 4:30-5:20, YK220 002
D. Moerner, Th 1:30-2:20, TD D23
D. Moerner, Th 2:30-3:20, TD D23

Instructor’s Office hours: Thursdays (on which Yale College classes meet), 12:30-1:50; Connecticut Hall, room 410 (up the North staircase of Conn. Hall)
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Books: The following books are required and should be available at the Yale Bookstore.

• D: Rene Descartes (D.A. Cress, tr.), Meditations on First Philosophy, 3rd ed. (Hackett)
• L: G.W. Leibniz (D. Garber, R. Ariew, tr.), Discourse on Metaphysics and Other Essays (Hackett)
• B: George Berkeley (K. Winkler, ed.), Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Hackett)
• H: David Hume (E. Steinberg, ed.), Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 2nd ed. (Hackett)
• K: Immanuel Kant (N. K. Smith, tr., ed.), Critique of Pure Reason, 2nd ed. (Palgrave Macmillan).

Readings from Locke and Reid will be made available.

Written work: Written requirements will consist of an in-class test (on February 22), an essay/paper (due April 19), and a final examination (May 7, at 7 p.m.).

The Feb. 22 test will be on the material covered in lectures and the readings through Feb. 20.  It will consist of essay questions about this material.  Students will have to answer either two or three questions in blue books provided.  The questions will not be distributed in advance.  If we start getting ahead of the posted schedule or start falling behind it, the test will still be given on Feb. 22, and will be on the material actually covered through Feb. 20, not the material that was scheduled to be covered at that time.

The essay will be 2,000-2,800 words (about 6-8 pages), and will be either on one of several assigned topics, or on another topic of your choice, relevant to our courses concerns, approved by your TF. A list of topics and further information will be distributed toward the end of February.

The final exam (May 7, 7 p.m.) will consist of essay questions.  A list of questions will be distributed on April 24, and the questions that actually appear on the final will be taken from that list.  The final will be cumulative, covering the lectures and readings of the whole semester, but will emphasize the material covered after the Feb. 22 test.

Other course requirements: Attendance at lectures and discussion section.

Grading. Grades will be based roughly on the following formula, though adjustments will be made for insightful classroom and especially for section participation and for marked improvement over the course of the semester: Test: 25%; Paper: 40%; Final Exam: 35%. Lecture and section attendance are mandatory, and repeated unexcused absences are grounds for the lowering of one’s grade and, in serious cases, for failure — even if one’s written work is good.

Important Dates:
Test: Feb.22
Paper due: April 19
Final Exam: May 7

Topics, Readings and Tentative Schedule:

Descartes: Jan. 16, 18, 23, 25

Meditations on First Philosophy,       D, pp. 13-59
  Meds I-VI

R.M. Adams, "Sensible Qualities and    C-Files
  the Rise of Modern Science," pp.
  xii-xvii of "Editor's Introduction"

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Leibniz: Jan. 30, Feb. 1, 6, 8

Discourse on Metaphysics
    -sect. 1-14                        L, pp. 1-16
    -sect. 30-35                       L, pp. 31-39

Monadology                                    
    -sect. 1-29                        L, pp. 68-71
    -sect. 51-62                       L, pp. 75-77
    -sect. 78-81                       L, pp. 79-81

On the Ultimate Origination of Things  L, pp. 46.1-47.5

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Locke: Feb. 13, 15, 20

An Essay concerning Human Understanding.
    -reading assignment under "Files" in Canvas

Test: Feb. 22, in class.  (Note: The test will be on this date even if we haven’t finished Locke by then.)

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Berkeley: Feb. 27, March 1, 6, 8

A Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, Part I (not Intro!)
 sects. 1-44, 50-59, 86-87, 135-156 at:
 B, pp. 23-39, 42-46, 56-57, 78-87

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Hume: March 27, 29, April 3, 5

Inquiry concerning Human Understanding,    
   sects. 1-5, 7, 12 at:
   H, pp. 1-37, 39-53, 102-114

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Reid: April 10, 12, 17

Inquiry into the Human Mind on the
  Principles of Common Sense
      -Dedication
      -Chapter 1, sections 7-8
      -Chapter 4, section 2
      -Chapter 5 (all)
      -Chapter 6, sections 6, 19 (last 4 paragraphs)-21, 24 (excl. last 12 paragraphs)
   -assigned Reid readings are in Canvas, under "Files"  

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Kant: April 19*, 24, 26

Critique of Pure Reason
    Preface to the Second Edition     K, pp. 17-33.6      (Bvii-Bxxxvii)
    Introduction                      K, pp. 41-62        (B1-B30)
    Transcendental Aesthetic          K, pp. 65-91        (B33-B73)
    Fourth Paralogism (A-version)     K, pp. 344.5-352.8  (A366-A380)
    Antinomy of Pure Reason           K, pp. 393.7-402.3  (B448-B461)

*Paper due April 19, at start of class
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Final Exam: Monday, May 7, 7:00 p.m., room TBA