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Prerequisites
Identical coursesModern Philosophy (B-KUL-W0W32B)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
de Boer Karin (coordinator) | Breeur Roland | de Boer Karin | Kral Garcia Luis Fellipe (substitute) Aims
The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with the historical context, main thinkers, themes and debates in the history of modern philosophy (Descartes to Nietzsche).
At the end of the course, students should be able to
- comprehend the treated texts in light of the main phases and movements in the history of modern philosophy;
- critically analyze the primary texts treated during the course;
- identify the structure and main elements of a relatively complex philosophical text;
- explain, compare, and assess the ideas and arguments of the philosophers treated during the course;
- present the elements mentioned above orally in a clear and convincing manner;
- present the elements mentioned above in written assignments;
- contribute to group discussions on the treated texts and problems in a structured manner.
Previous knowledge
Students should have basic knowledge of philosophy and its history.
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
3 ects. Early Modern Philosophy (B-KUL-W0W32a)
Content
The course is concerned with the meaning and the limits of modernity insofar as it is reflected in the philosophy of the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. The modern perspective on culture, religion, politics and the sciences that developed from the seventeenth century onward relies on the view that the human mind is capable of achieving knowledge and of acting independently of authorities, traditions and unfounded presuppositions. Within the realm of philosophy this development gave rise to a conflict between, on the one hand, the form of metaphysics that so far had served the purposes of religion and, on the other hand, the sciences. The first part of the course focuses on the worldview of seventeenth-century rationalism. Starting from Descartes' texts on the sciences (including Rules for the Direction of the Mind, Treatise on Man, Passions of the Soul), we investigate the Cartesian view of knowledge, the will, the body and the passions. Against this background, we also examine Descartes’ influence on philosophers such as Malebranche, Pascal, Locke and Spinoza.
Course material
Reader, made available on Toledo
Is also included in other courses
3 ects. Late Modern Philosophy (B-KUL-W0W33a)
EnglishFormat: Lecture
22 
Second termde Boer Karin | Kral Garcia Luis Fellipe (substitute) Content
This part of the course addresses the ways in which philosophers perceived the scope and tasks of philosophy and metaphysics in the late modern period. Four groups of approaches will be examined: (1) Kant’s conception of a critique aiming at transforming metaphysics and philosophy into a science; (2) the systematic conceptions of philosophy in German Idealism; (3) the materialistic conception of philosophy in Marx and Feuerbach; and (4) the existentialist conception of philosophy in Kierkegaard and Nietzsche
Course material
Reader
Format: more information
Interactive classes
Is also included in other courses
Evaluation
Evaluation: Modern Philosophy (B-KUL-W2W32b)
Explanation
The exam consists of the following two main parts: (1) oral exam (Early Modern Philosophy, 50%), and (2) four written assignments (Late Modern Philosophy, 50%).
In order to pass for the course, students:
- need to have taken/submitted all elements of the exam. Students who do not meet this requirement receive the final result ‘NA’ (not taken the exam).
- need to receive at least 9/20 for the two main parts of the exam. Students who do not meet this requirement cannot receive a final score higher than 9/20.
Students can participate in the oral exam independently of all other results. Assignments that are handed in late without an ombuds-related reason or other valid reason will either receive a lower grade or not be graded.
Information about retaking exams
All components of the exam can be retaken.
Resit within the same academic year: students who failed the course should retake all the components for which they failed. They cannot retake the components for which they passed.
Retaking the course in a next academic year: students should retake all the components.