Postgraduate Course: Mind and Body in Early Modern Philosophy (PHIL11113)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Ever since Descartes argued that the mind and body are distinct, separable substances whose essential natures are diametrically opposed to one another, understanding the union of the mind and body came to be regarded as problematic: how could the immaterial mind or soul bring about changes in the physical body and vice versa? A variety of solutions, and their associated scientific and theological implications, dominated philosophical speculation for the rest of the century. Through an examination of core texts, this course will explore the principal accounts offered in the mid- to late-seventeenth century: the Cartesian doctrine of interaction, Spinoza's theory of mind-body identity, Malebranche's occasionalism, and Leibniz's pre-established harmony. Each will be subjected to critical evaluation by examining arguments advanced in their favour and objections against, particularly those raised by contemporaries, such as Pierre Gassendi, Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia, Pierre Bayle, Simon Foucher and François Lamy. |
| Course description |
Provisional outline that may be subject to change;
Week 1: Introduction and substance.
Week 2: Descartes - Real distinction between the mind and body
Week 3: Descartes - Mind-body union
Week 4: Spinoza - Monism, determinism and degrees of knowledge
Week 5: Spinoza - Mind and body
Week 6: Malebranche - Vision in God
Week 7: Malebranche - Occasionalism
Week 8: Leibniz - Leibniz's 'New System'
Week 9: Leibniz - Leibniz's critics: Bayle, Foucher, Leibniz
Week 10: Role plays - Descartes and Spinoza
Week 11: Role plays - Malebranche and Leibniz
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One 2500 word essay comparing the views on the relation of mind and body of at least two of the philosophers studied on the course.
Essay deadline: Thursday 17th December 2015 by 12 noon.
Word limit: 3000 words maximum (excluding references)
Return deadline: Thursday 21st January 2016 |
| Feedback |
- the course organiser will be available to discuss drafts and or plans of essays individually with students before submission (face-to face and via email)
- general advice in class
- students will also present their work in class ahead of submission, set up as a debate between two students, each adopting the persona of one of the early modern philosophy studied in the course
- Students have the opportunity to submit a formative essay by week 6 deadline on Turnitin via Learn. The essay cannot be draft of summative essay but it can be on the same topic.
Formative essay deadline: Thursday 29th October 2015 by 12 noon
Return deadline: Friday 20th November 2015 |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- gain an understanding of the history of the enduring mind-body problem
- come to appreciate the complex web of issues, metaphysical, scientific, moral and theological, raised by attempts to understand the relation of the mind and body
- develop the critical skills required to assess the various theories proposed and to evaluate the contemporary responses
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Reading List
Primary Reading
Descartes
The continental rationalists (e-resource) - Jonathan Bennett, John Cottingham, R. H. Stoothoff, Peter Remnant 1995 (electronic resource)
Book: Essential Descartes, The Philosophical Writings of Descartes.
The philosophical writings of Descartes - Rene' Descartes, John Cottingham, Robert Stotthoff, Dugald Murdoch 1984-1991
Book: Print version
Spinoza
The continental rationalists (e-resource) - Jonathan Bennett, John Cottingham, R. H. Stoothoff, Peter Remnant 1995 (electronic resource)
Book: Essential Spinoza, The Collected Works of Spinoza.
The collected works of Spinoza - Benedictus de Spinoza, E. M. Curley ©1984-
Book: Print version
OR
Ethics - Benedictus de Spinoza, G. H. R. Parkinson 2000], ©2000
Book: Essential
Malebranche
The search after truth - Nicolas Malebranche, Thomas M. Lennon, Paul J. Olscamp 1997
Book: Essential
Dialogues on metaphysics and on religion - Nicolas Malebranche, Nicholas Jolley 1997
Leibniz
Leibniz's "New system" and associated contemporary texts - R. S. Woolhouse, Richard Francks 1997
Book: Essential
The continental rationalists (e-resource) - Jonathan Bennett, John Cottingham, R. H. Stoothoff, Peter Remnant 1995 (electronic resource)
Book: Essential Philosophical essays - Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
Philosophical essays - Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Roger Ariew, Daniel Garber 1989], ©1989
Book: Print version
The full secondary reading list can be found on Learn. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
Please see Learn page |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
The course is taught by Dr Pauline Phemister. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Pauline Phemister
Tel: (0131 6)51 3747
Email: p.phemister@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2015 The University of Edinburgh - 18 January 2016 4:42 am
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