Description:

This course takes a historical approach to the development of modern philosophy and covers the period from the Renaissance to the 20th-century. The course will cover the epistemological, metaphysical and relevant axiological issues of the major philosophers and philosophical movements of this period. The course will also examine the influence of modern philosophy on contemporary thought. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Describe in detail the major issues of the modern period in philosophy and describe and explain the vocabulary in which those issues were discussed.
2. Thoroughly describe the methods modern philosophers devised to try to resolve the major issues of their times.
3. Trace historically the discussion of the main problems of modern philosophy as it develops from its origin in the Renaissance, through the major movements of the period, such as rationalism, empiricism, and idealism, to the influence of these movements on nineteenth century philosophy.
4. Explain the relationship between modern philosophy and both twentieth century philosophy and the development of contemporary Western social, political, and religious institutions.
5. Display the ability to write expository and evaluative essays in a focused, informed, coherent, and thorough manner.
6. Display the ability to read complex philosophical material interpretively.
7. Display habits of character which contribute to academic and philosophical excellence.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Concepts in the History of Philosophy
   A. Distinguish between the history of philosophy, the history of ideas
and philosophy of history.
   B. Distinguish these terms and their methodologies:  science, theology,
and philosophy.
   C. Explain in what sense there is "progress" in philosophy and in what
sense there is not "progress" in philosophy.
   D. Explain the basic features of Scholastic philosophy.

II. Francis Bacon 
   A. Define "idols" and identify Bacon’s types of idols described in
Novum Organum and describe the ways they "meet and trouble us."
   B. Describe the features of Bacon's Novum Organum that qualify his
writing as "modern" or analytical philosophy and not speculative
philosophy.
   C. Give specific instances of Bacon's idols of (1) the cave, (2) the
market place, (3) the theatre, and (4) the tribe. 

III. Rene Descartes
   A. Describe the features of Descartes’ rationalism and explain what
personal experiences of his led him to adopt rationalism.
   B. Skepticism
      1. Explain Descartes' dreaming argument.
      2. Explain Descartes' evil genius argument.
      3. Define Solipsism.
      4. Explain Descartes' test for the truth of an idea.
   C. God's existence
      1. Explain the cosmological argument.
      2. Explain the teleological argument.
      3. Explain the ontological argument.
   D. Explain the argument for the conclusion that material objects
exist.
   E. Describe Descartes' analysis of the piece of wax.
   F. Explain Descartes' conclusions regarding the origin of sensory
qualities (colors, smells, etc.) of material objects.
   G. Define substance and describe the types and number of substances in
Descartes' theory of the physical universe.
   H. Evaluate the strength of Descartes' analysis of physical objects.

IV. Baruch Spinoza
   A. Describe Spinoza’s two basic criticisms of Descartes’ cogito
argument from the second Meditation.
   B. Describe Spinoza’s concept of substance and explain how Spinoza’s
concept leads him to reject Descartes’ cogito and Descartes’ concept of
extension.
   C. Describe Spinoza’s concepts of attribute and mode.
   D. Explain Spinoza’s rejection of the concept of final causality.
   E. Describe the levels or stages of human knowledge.
   F. Describe these concepts in Spinoza’s ethics:  his account of human
emotions, both passive and active, conatus, servitude, and freedom.

V. Gottfried Leibniz
   A. Describe Liebniz’s theory of knowledge, including his thinking
about:  
      1. Truths of reason
      2. Truths of fact
      3. Analytical propositions
      4. Synthetic propositions
   B. Describe the relationships between Leibniz’s grammar of propositions
and his metaphysics.
   C. Describe Leibniz’s conception of substance and explain how this
conception differs from Descartes’ and Spinoza’s conceptions of
substance.
   D. Explain these principles:
      1. Principle of sufficient reason
      2. Principle of noncontradiction
      3. Principle of identity of indiscernibles
   E. Explain these concepts in Leibniz’s theory:
      1. God
      2. Freedom
      3. Determinism

VI. John Locke
   A. Define "empiricism."
   B. Describe the connection between the appearance of empiricism and the
development of a comprehensive theory of language.
   C. Compare Hobbes’ account ofmeaning with Locke’s theory of linguistic
meaning.
   D. Describe Locke’s disagreement with Leibniz over innate ideas.
   E. Describe Locke’s theory of abstract ideas and his account of how we
acquire knowledge of the external world.
   F. Describe Locke’s theories of substance, causation, and personal
identity.

VII. George Berkeley
   A. Describe Berkeley’s position on causal relations among objects in
the external world.
   B. Describe Berkeley’s theory of ideas and the theory’s implications
for Locke’s conception of abstract ideas, Locke’s distinction between
primary and secondary qualities, and Locke’s notion of substance.
   C. Describe Berkeley’s arguments against the existence of material
substance.
      1. Explain Berkeley’s conviction that belief in material objects
entails skepticism.
      2. Describe the chief features of the materialism which Berkeley
sought to refute.
      3. Provide the details of Berkeley’s arguments which were designed
to refute each of these chief features.
   D. Describe Berkeley’s argument for God’s existence and the
relationship between my mind, other minds, and God.

VIII. David Hume
   A. Describe the principles of Hume’s empiricism and how Hume’s
empiricism differs from that of Locke and Berkeley.
   B. Describe and explain Hume’s analysis of causation and explain how
his analysis harms the classical conception of causality.
   C. Describe the problem of induction according to Hume.
   D. Relate Hume’s analysis of propositonal truths to this theory of
knowledge.
   E. Apply Hume’s epistemology to his analysis of the concepts of soul
and personal identity.
   F. Describe Hume’s arguments against God’s existence and the notion of
miracles.
   G. Outline the principal features of Hume’s ethics.

IX. Immanuel Kant
   A. Describe the basic goals of Kant's metaphysical system.
   B. Explain the meaning of the words "symthetic a priori knowledge."
   C. Explain the sense in which Kant's epistemology "transcendental."
   D. Define and explain the epistemological significance of Kant's
"categories" of understanding.
   E. Describe these concepts in Kant: the "Transcendental Unity of
Apperception" and "Transcendental Deduction."
   F. Describe Kant's distinction between "phenomena" and "noumena."
   G. Kantian ethics
      1. Explain what a moral law is.
      2. Define "categorical imperative." Give Kant's three formulations
of the imperative and explain the difference between the formulations.
      3. Distinguish hypothetical from categorical imperatives.
      4. Describe the characteristics which make up "humanity" according
to Kant.
      5. Explain Kant's formulation "treat humanity as an end."
      6. Distinguish between the concepts of "dignity" and "price."
      7. Distinguish between "beneficence" and "duty."
      8. Distinguish an act from duty from an act in accordance with
duty.
      9. Explain Kant's application of the categorical imperative to the:
         a. Suicide case
         b. Promising case
         c. Comfortable circumstances case
         d. Each-for-himself case

X. G.W. F. Hegel
   A. Describe the criticisms which Hegel makes of Kant’s theory of the
categories of understanding.
   B. Describe Hegel’s characterization of history as spirit.
   C. Discuss Hegel’s theory dialectic and the theory’s role explaining
the character of reality.
   D. Explain the development of self-consciousness and this development’s
relation to master-slave relationships.
   E. Explain the concept of the cunning of reason.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

At least one of the following methods: research paper, essay, short
written answer, multiple choice questions, problem solving, or classroom
presentations. A minimum of three examinations will be given  which will
constitute no less than 60% of a student’s grade.

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.