In this course, we
will study and analyze
the texts of some important
thinkers in the history
of modern philosophy.
We will particularly
focus on certain thinkers
from the 17th and 18th
century such as Descartes,
Leibniz, Hume and Kant.
These philosophers
were concerned, among
other issues, about
general metaphysical
and epistemological
questions of the following
sorts: What is the
nature of reality?
What is the nature
of the human mind?
Can we obtain knowledge
of the world, and if
so, how? Is it possible
to gain knowledge of
the existence of a
Supreme Being who is
the cause of the universe?
The aim of the course
is not to provide a
survey of philosophical
views from Descartes
to Kant, but to engage
with these philosophers
in thinking through
such questions which
are pertinent to all
of us insofar as we
are reflective beings
who have an interest
in understanding the
world around us and
our place in it. We
will examine the particular
happenings in the 17th
and 18th century that
motivated these thinkers
to reflect on these
issues as well as critically
assess the arguments
they used to defend
their responses to
the aforementioned
challenging questions.
