NB: This course satisfies requirements for the Philosophy major, the Philosophy minor, and also count as "Upper Level Credits" towards the B.A. and B.S. Thus, it is usefully applicable no matter what your major.

 

PHIL 426, Section 1 (3 credits)
BRITISH PHILOSOPHY IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

The seventeenth century is generally regarded as the most tumultuous period in intellectual history. This is largely because of the advances in philosophy and natural science, and the way in which many of these advances conflicted with traditional religious beliefs. This progress, often referred to as the "Scientific Revolution," was in large part due to a number of philosophers from the UK. In this course, we will trace the development of that progress through a look at some of the most influential British thinkers: Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, Robert Boyle, John Locke, Isaac Newton, and others. The emphasis will be on ultimate questions about the human situation, and how the great thinkers of the past have dealt with such questions. Moreover, this course provides the opportunity to experience first-hand the cultural setting in which these thinkers were immersed. This will take place through numerous field trips aimed at supplementing the classroom material.

Course Texts (tentative)
Matthews, Michael R., ed. The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy (Hackett, 1989).
Carlin, Laurence, The Empiricists (Continuum, 2009)
Course Packet