PHL2110

Origins of Modern Philosophy A: Descartes

(ART)

Aubrey Townsend

6 points + 2 hours per week + Second semester + Caulfield and Clayton, OCDL (every semester) + Prerequisites: A first-year unit in Philosophy or Psychology

Synopsis: The Meditations of Descartes set the agenda for modern philosophical debates in epistemology and metaphysics. Among the topics Descartes discussed were scepticism about commonsense and scientific beliefs, certainty, the existence of God, the nature of belief and judgment, the existence of the material objects and their relation to the mind, and the nature of the self. In all these areas his views have been influential and of continuing relevance to on-going philosophical discussion. The unit will examine the entire Cartesian system, and follow some of its themes into contemporary philosophy. www.arts.monash.edu.au/phil/undergraduate/lateryears.html

Assessment: Two exercises (750 words each): 20% + Essay (2000 words): 40% + Seminar participation 10% + Test (1 hour): 30% + Distance Education: The expository exercises and seminar participation will be replaced by contributions to the electronic discussion group. On-campus students have the option of proceeding in the same way as DE students