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PHL342Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Early Modern Philosophy

This course explores the major figures and themes in Early Modern Philosophy. It covers the transition from medieval thought to the rise of modern science and the emphasis on reason and individualism. Key topics include the Renaissance, Reformation, empiricism, rationalism, and the philosophical contributions of thinkers like Copernicus, Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, and others. The course examines their theories of knowledge, metaphysics, ethics, and socio-political thought.

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208h

Study Time

13

Weeks

16h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

Early Modern PhilosophyEmpiricismRationalismRenaissanceReformation

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Renaissance and Reformation

2

Empiricism

3

Rationalism

4

Theory of Knowledge

5

Metaphysics

6

Ethics

7

Social and Political Philosophy

8

Mind-Body Problem

9

Influence of Science on Philosophy

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Philosopher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Ethics Consultant

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Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Critical Thinking Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Academic Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AcademiaGovernmentNon-profit OrganizationsResearch InstitutionsConsulting

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Introduction

5h

Unit 1: Cultural Context: Renaissance, Reformation and the Rise of Modern Science

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: Understand the cultural shifts during the Renaissance and Reformation.
•Identify the key factors that led to the rise of modern science.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.

Unit 2: Nicolaus Copernicus

2 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Study Copernicus's heliocentric theory.
•Analyze the impact of his theory on the scientific and religious views of the time.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.

Week

2

Module 1: Introduction

5h

Unit 3: Gordiano Bruno

3 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Explore Bruno's ideas on multiple universes.
•Understand his animistic cosmology and its conflict with religious dogma.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.

Unit 4: Galileo Galilei

2 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Study Galileo's experimental approach to science.
•Analyze his laws of acceleration and dynamics.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4.

Week

3

Module 2:

3h

Unit 1: Francis Bacon and Early Empiricism

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: Understand Bacon's empiricism and his call for a reconstruction of knowledge.
•Analyze the four idols that hinder the mind from acquiring knowledge.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.

Week

4

Module 2:

4h

Unit 2: Thomas Hobbes and Early Empiricism

4 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Study Hobbes' empiricism and his materialistic view of reality.
•Analyze his social contract theory and the role of the Leviathan.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.

Week

5

Module 2:

4h

Unit 3: John Locke and the Rise of Modern Empiricism

4 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Explore Locke's empiricism and his rejection of innate ideas.
•Understand the concepts of simple and complex ideas, primary and secondary qualities.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.

Week

6

Module 2:

3h

Unit 4: George Berkeley

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Study Berkeley's idealism and his dictum 'to be is to be perceived'.
•Analyze his arguments against the existence of matter.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4.

Week

7

Module 2:

4h

Unit 5: David Hume

4 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Explore Hume's empiricism and his skepticism about causality and substance.
•Understand the distinction between impressions and ideas.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 5.

Week

8

Module 3:

4h

Unit 1: Rene Descartes and the Foundation of Modern Philosophy

4 study hours

•Read Unit 1: Study Descartes' method of doubt and his quest for certainty.
•Analyze his 'cogito ergo sum' argument and his dualistic view of mind and body.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.

Week

9

Module 3:

4h

Unit 2: Benedict Spinoza

4 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Explore Spinoza's pantheism and his concept of 'God or Nature'.
•Understand his theory of knowledge and his solution to the mind-body problem.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.

Week

10

Module 3:

4h

Unit 3: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

4 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Study Leibniz's monadology and his principle of pre-established harmony.
•Analyze his distinction between truths of reason and truths of fact.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.

Week

11

Module 3:

5h

Unit 4: Blaise Pascal

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Explore Pascal's religious philosophy and his 'wager' argument.
•Understand his conception of God, nature, and grace.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4.

Unit 5: Nicholas Malebranche

2 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Study Malebranche's occasionalism and his view on mind-body interaction.
•Analyze his arguments against Descartes' interactionism.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 5.

Week

12

Module 4:

4h

Unit 1: Immanuel Kant: Synthesizing Rationalism and Empiricism

4 study hours

•Read Unit 1: Study Kant's attempt to synthesize rationalism and empiricism.
•Analyze his concepts of analytic and synthetic judgments, noumena and phenomena.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.

Week

13

Module 4:

5h

Unit 2: Isaac Newton and the Age of Enlightenment

5 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Explore the impact of Newton's science on the Enlightenment.
•Understand how his ideas influenced philosophy and religion.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.
•Read Unit 3: Study Boyle's contributions to chemistry and his views on perception and imagination.
•Analyze his approach to mind-body relations.
•Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key philosophers and their major works to understand the historical context.

2

Develop concept maps linking empiricism and rationalism, highlighting similarities and differences.

3

Practice writing concise summaries of each philosopher's main arguments to improve comprehension.

4

Focus on understanding the mind-body problem and the different solutions proposed by Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz.

5

Prepare for essay questions by outlining potential arguments and counterarguments for each major topic.

6

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas needing further study.

7

Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing challenging units based on personal understanding.

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