RECOMMENDED TEXT
 
 
 

Cummins, Robert and David Owen (eds.)  Central Readings in the History of Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant  2nd Edition  (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999).

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
 
 

This course is devoted to an examination and critical evaluation of some of the central themes and arguments in the empiricist tradition.  We will be reading the works of three philosophers:  Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.  For the first few weeks, we will read and discuss selections from Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.  For the next few weeks, we will read and discuss selections from Berkeley's A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge and his Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous.  And for the remainder of the course, we will read and discuss selections from Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.
 
 

Reading assignments are listed in the course outline below.  All assigned readings are available in the recommended text listed above and are also available in several locations on the web.  Students should attend each meeting of the course ready to discuss the assigned reading material.

You will write three papers on assigned topics (each roughly 1500-2400 words in length).  The first paper will be due at the beginning of class on Monday, February 1.  The second paper will be due at the beginning of class on Monday, February 22.  The third paper will be due in my office [Bond Hall 302A] on Monday, March 15 between 4:30-5:30.  Each paper will be worth one-third of the final grade for the course.

Please note my policy on late papers:  The deadline for submitting a paper is 12:10 for the first and second paper and 5:30 for the third.  After that -- it's late.  Unless you make prior arrangements with me, a late paper will be penalized two full letter grades if it is submitted within 24 hours of its deadline, and it will be penalized three full letter grades if it is submitted within the next 24 hour period.  I will not accept a paper submitted 48 hours after it is due.   Computers crash, disks fail, and computer labs get busy.  Plan ahead.
 
 

COURSE OUTLINE
 
 
 

01/06	Introduction / Review of Syllabus / First Reading Assignment
01/08	Locke  Essay  (Book I, Chs. I, II)
01/11
01/13
01/15
01/18	No Class
01/20	Locke  Essay  (Book II, Chs. I, II, III, VIII, XII, XXIII, XXVII)
01/22
01/25
01/27
01/29
02/01	First Paper Due In Class -- Monday, February 1 (Before 12:10)
02/01	Berkeley  Principles  (Introduction, 6-13; Part I, 1-33);  Berkeley  Three Dialogues
02/03
02/05
02/08
02/10
02/12
02/15	No Class
02/17
02/19
02/22	Second Paper Due In Class -- Monday, February 22 (Before 12:10)
02/22	Hume  Enquiry  (Sections II, III, IV, and VII)
02/24
02/26
03/01
03/03
03/05
03/08
03/10
03/12	No Class
03/15	Final Paper Due In Bond Hall 302A -- Monday, March 15 (Between 4:30-5:30)