History of philosophy 4 : History of modern philosophy [ LFILO1283 ]

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To introduce the student to the spirit of Modern philosophy by drawing out the main lines of argument, the principle tendencies and the key thinkers that delineate it.

By the end of the course, the student should:

- be familiar with the main concerns and the key authors of Early Modern philosophy;

- be able to identify the main problems underlying it;

- be able to describe the major debates running through it.

The student is expected to present a written work of ten pages taking bearing from the reading of the proposed commentary in the reading file. Having sent this work by mail, the student will in return receive a question on the sent work which he or she has to prepare in readiness for the oral examination.

Presentation of the question during the oral exam takes the duration of fifteen minutes.

The written work can be done in French, English, Spanish, or German, in agreement with the Professor.

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As a beginning, the course will presents an overview of the development of modern philosophy by distinguishing three great generations of thinkers according to the 'discourse on method' to which they adhere. As a second step, a more specific study will be dedicated to each generation through the major protagonists following a precise pattern of presentation: the mental process that has been favored to specialize in the thought, the conditions of knowledge of the real that results and the type of philosophy of freedom to which it is supposed to aspire.

As a way of learning the students to be comfortable with the reading of the textual sources of this period of thought, the lecture alternates systematic presentations and text commentaries. A file of reading and reference works supplements the pedagogic structure.

Basic Bibliography :

M. Maesschalck,Le principe d'autonomie, Introduction aux auteurs modernes, Essais philosophiques (11), Vrin/Peeters, Paris/Leuven, 1992, 390 pp.

Compulsory Reading:

A chapter of choice from Le principe d´autonomie, introduction aux auteurs modern, the introduction and the conclusion. A text of an author corresponding to this chapter (Descartes, Spinoza, Rousseau, Hobbes, Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel)

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