PHILOSOPHY IN THE 18TH CENTURY

Course Code:

PHIL 321

Semester:

Fall

Course Type:

Core

P:

3

Lab:

0

Laboratuvar Saati:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

8

Course Language:

English

Course Objectives:

The aim of this course is to assess the heritage of the 17th century philosophy and then proceed to discuss the main 18th century philosophical movements and questions by reading original texts of the major philosophers of the age.

Course Content:

A detailed examination of Leibniz’ and Kant’s philosophy: The source of knowledge; the nature of space and time; the new conception of the object; the idea of synthetic a priori knowledge; the examination and critique of Reason. Discourse on Metaphysics and Monadology of Leibniz and The Critique of Pure Reason of Kant will be read and discussed.

Course Methodology:

1: Lecture, 2: Question-Answer, 3: Discussion, 4: Exercises

Course Evaluation Methods:

A: Testing, B: Experience, C: Homework

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Upon the completion of this course a student:	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
1) recognizes the main research lines of the 18th century philosophy.	1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C
2) grasps the main arguments of empiricist and rationalist attitudes in philosophy.	1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C
3) distinguishes the relations among the explanations concerning philosophical questions like causality, freedom and personal identity.	1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C
4) determines the relations between theoretical philosophy and problems of action.	1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C
5) gains substantial knowledge about the philosophies of Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant.	1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C

Course Flow

Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	Outlines of the 18th century; main philosophical issues of the period	-
2	The philosophical heritage of the 17th century: the contributions of Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz	-
3	The self- image of thought of the 18th century philosophy with reference to Kant and Mendelssohn’s answers to the question “What is Enlightenment?”	Reading relevant texts
4	The Leibniz-Newton and Leibniz-Locke disputes; the differences between empiricism and rationalism.	Leibniz-Clarke correspondence
5	Main questions of Locke’s philosophy; the origin of knowledge, personal identity and concepts of freedom.	Locke’s Essay
6	The questions of knowledge and personal identity in the empiricist tradition: Berkeley, Reid and Hume.	Hume’s Enquiry
7	Midterm Exam
8	Hume’s critique of causality with a view to its twofold implications for the possibility of ‘miracles’ and ‘freedom’.	Hume’s Enquiry
9	The relation between Hume’s critique of causality and Kant’s philosophy of knowledge	First Critique
10	The main arguments of the analytical part of The Critique of Pure Reason.	First Critique
11	The main arguments of the dialectical part of The Critique of Pure Reason.	First Critique
12	Kant’s fundamental distinction between theory and action; the relation between Kant’s philosophy and other philosophies of the 17th and 18th centuries.	Second Critique
13	Kant’s arguments about the foundations of morals in The Critique of Practical Reason.	Second Critique
14	Assessment of the main tendencies of the 18th century and the outlines of its influences in the 19th century.	-
15	Final Exam	-

Recommended Sources

Textbook

Additional Resources

John Locke (1979), An Essay concerning Human Understanding, yay. P. Nidditch. Oxford University Press.

David Hume (1975), An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, yay. P. Nidditch. Clarendon Press.

Immanuel Kant (1998), Critique of Pure Reason, çev. P. Guyer, A. E. Wood. Cambridge University Press.

Immanuel Kant (1986), Critique of Practical Reason, çev. L. W. Beck. Macmillan.

Material Sharing

Documents	Kant’s and Mendelssohn’s papers on “What is Enlightenment?”
Assignments
Exams

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Midterm	1	30
Assignments	2	30
Final	1	40
Total		100
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE		40
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE		60
Total		100

COURSE CATEGORY

Core Area Courses

Course’s Contribution to Program

No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	Grasps the fundamental concepts and analytical methods necessary to succeed in academic studies in the field of philosophy.				X
2	Acquires a versatile critical and analytical approach, and problem-solving, interpretative and argumentative skills necessary for a successful career in philosophy.				X
3	Communicates effectively, is specifically successful in written and oral presentation, has proper capacities for teamwork and interdisciplinary studies, takes the initiative, has developed a sense of responsibility, contributes original ideas to the field of philosophy, and is loyal to ethical principles.			X
4	Reaches the perfection of pursuing professional and personal development by using all means of knowledge with a view to lifelong learning.				X
5	Develops a consciousness of professional and social ethics.		X
6	Gains the skills of choosing and developing contemporary means required in philosophical applications as well as using computing technologies effectively.			X
7	Acquires substantial knowledge of the history of philosophy.					X
8	Learns a classical and at least one modern foreign language so as to read the historical texts of philosophy in the original.			X
9	Pinpoints, recognizes, grasps and discusses the problems of philosophy within their context in the history of philosophy.					X
10	Develops perfection in reading, understanding and analyzing philosophical texts in different languages.				X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 15x Total course hours)	15	4	60
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	10	6	60
Mid-terms	1	30	30
Assignments	2	5	10
Final Examination	1	40	40
Total Work Load			200
Total Work Load / 25 (h)			8
ECTS Credit of the Course			8

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