Early Modern Philosophy
- Arts
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 130 pages
- 20 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHL342, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHL342 · UNIT 2 NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
The Renaissance paved way for thinkers to challenge the orthodoxy of the medieval ideas by raising serious questions and seeking answers independent of faith, and this gave rise to such ideas being challenged where they were found wanting and this encouraged the rise of new philosophies or nature.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the key figures and movements in Early Modern Philosophy.
- Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism.
- Analyze the philosophical contributions of major thinkers like Descartes, Locke, and Kant.
- Evaluate the impact of scientific discoveries on philosophical thought.
- Apply philosophical concepts to contemporary issues.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills in evaluating philosophical arguments.
What it prepares you for
- Philosopher
- Ethics Consultant
- Policy Analyst
- Critical Thinking Specialist
- Academic Researcher
- Academia
- Government
- Non-profit Organizations
- Research Institutions
- Consulting
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3:
Unit 1: Rene Descartes and the Foundation of Modern Philosophy
Descartes' method of doubt requires careful consideration of skeptical arguments and their implications for the possibility of knowledge.
- Module 3:
Unit 2: Benedict Spinoza
Spinoza's concept of substance and attributes requires abstract thinking and understanding of complex metaphysical relationships.
- Module 4:
Unit 1: Immanuel Kant: Synthesizing Rationalism and Empiricism
Kant's transcendental idealism involves complex terminology and requires careful analysis of the relationship between experience and understanding.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 54 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Introduction
Unit 1: Cultural Context: Renaissance, Reformation and the Rise of Modern Science · 3 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 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 2Module 1: Introduction
Unit 3: Gordiano Bruno · 3 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 hours
Read Unit 4: Study Galileo's experimental approach to science.. Analyze his laws of acceleration and dynamics.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4..
- Week 3Module 2:
Unit 1: Francis Bacon and Early Empiricism · 3 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 4Module 2:
Unit 2: Thomas Hobbes and Early Empiricism · 4 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 5Module 2:
Unit 3: John Locke and the Rise of Modern Empiricism · 4 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 6Module 2:
Unit 4: George Berkeley · 3 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 7Module 2:
Unit 5: David Hume · 4 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 8Module 3:
Unit 1: Rene Descartes and the Foundation of Modern Philosophy · 4 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 9Module 3:
Unit 2: Benedict Spinoza · 4 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 10Module 3:
Unit 3: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz · 4 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 11Module 3:
Unit 4: Blaise Pascal · 3 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 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 12Module 4:
Unit 1: Immanuel Kant: Synthesizing Rationalism and Empiricism · 4 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 13Module 4:
Unit 2: Isaac Newton and the Age of Enlightenment · 5 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..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key philosophers and their major works to understand the historical context.
- Develop concept maps linking empiricism and rationalism, highlighting similarities and differences.
- Practice writing concise summaries of each philosopher's main arguments to improve comprehension.
- Focus on understanding the mind-body problem and the different solutions proposed by Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz.
- Prepare for essay questions by outlining potential arguments and counterarguments for each major topic.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas needing further study.
- Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing challenging units based on personal understanding.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHL342 about?
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.
How many units does PHL342 have?
PHL342, Early Modern Philosophy, has 20 units across 5 modules, over 130 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PHL342?
PHL342 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Arts.
Is PHL342 hard?
PHL342 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PHL342 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.
How is PHL342 assessed?
PHL342 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with PHL342?
Philosopher, Ethics Consultant, Policy Analyst, Critical Thinking Specialist and Academic Researcher.