Undergraduate Course: John Locke (PHIL10189)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will offer a close reading of some of John Locke's most important philosophical writings, such as An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689), Two Treatises of Government (1689), and the Letter Concerning Toleration (1689). The course will introduce students to the historical context of his work and its legacy, particularly the Essay's role as the most influential statement of empiricism in the early modern period. Students will also be exposed to early responses to Locke and contemporary secondary literature. |
| Course description |
This class will offer a close reading of Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, with a focus on appreciating the aims and coherence of the work as a whole. Topics specifically addressed may include: Locke's arguments against innate ideas and innate knowledge; the nature of ideas; the primary-secondary quality distinction; our ideas of substance and of natural kinds; personal identity; language and meaning; the nature of knowledge; mathematical knowledge; perceptual knowledge; action and the will; knowledge of moral truths; probable judgment and the nature of probability; and, finally, Locke's contributions to political philosophy and their connection to his metaphysics and epistemology.
Students will work on developing the skills necessary to interpret historical texts and will learn techniques and tools commonly used in the history of philosophy. In addition, students will learn how to read and carefully assess secondary literature, and to critically evaluate competing interpretations of primary sources. Finally, students will have the opportunity to do research in the history of philosophy, developing an original topic, formulating and defending a thesis, and making use of relevant secondary literature.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm Essay (40%) 1500 words«br /»«br /»
Final Essay (55%) 2500 words«br /»«br /»
Participation (5%) |
| Feedback |
Guidance will be given in advance of each assignment. This may be in the form of an in-class discussion, a handout, or discussion of a component of the assessed work. Instructor feedback on essay outline and peer feedback provides further formative opportunities ahead of final essay. |
| No Exam Information |
|
| Academic year 2021/22, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
Quota: 5 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm Essay (40%) 1500 words«br /»«br /»
Final Essay (55%) 2500 words«br /»«br /»
Participation (5%) |
| Feedback |
Guidance will be given in advance of each assignment. This may be in the form of an in-class discussion, a handout, or discussion of a component of the assessed work. Instructor feedback on essay outline and peer feedback provides further formative opportunities ahead of final essay. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Interpret, analyze, and evaluate arguments in historical philosophical texts.
- Understand Locke's project in An Essay concerning Human Understanding and its philosophical legacy.
- Critically assess competing positions in the secondary literature on Locke.
- Develop an original interpretation of some topic or issue in Locke¿s philosophical works.
|
Reading List
Representative reading list
Primary reading may include:
Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689)
Locke, Two Treatises of Government (1689)
Locke, Letter Concerning Toleration (1689)
Excerpts from Locke's correspondence with Stillingfleet (1697)
Excerpts from Locke's other works, especially "An Examination of Malebranche's Opinion Of Seeing All Things In God" (1706)
Leibniz, New Essays on Human Understanding (1765)
Secondary reading will be drawn from recent books and articles, which may include the following:
Anstey, Locke and Natural Philosophy (2011).
Collins, In the Shadow of Leviathan: John Locke and the Politics of Conscience (2020)
Marusic, The Candle Within: Locke on the Extent of our Knowledge (unpublished manuscript).
Rickless, Locke (2014).
Stuart, Locke's Metaphysics (2013).
Stuart (edited), A Companion to Locke (2016).
Weinberg and Gordon-Roth (edited), The Lockean Mind (forthcoming).
Weinberg, Consciousness in Locke (2015). |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Enquiry and lifelong learning; Research and enquiry; Personal and intellectual autonomy; communication |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jennifer Marusic
Tel:
Email: Jennifer.Marusic@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: Annmarie.Cowe@ed.ac.uk |
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