Early Modern Philosophy

In seventeenth century Europe, ideas in natural philosophy, theology, political philosophy, metaphysics and epistemology all underwent radical transformation. As the principles and methods of modern science were fashioned, new perspectives were explored, often by the same thinkers, on questions concerning method, the possibility of certain knowledge, the nature of physical reality, the existence of God, and the foundations of morality and the state, with a depth and originality seldom rivaled. Rather than try to cover all this terrain, in this course we will concentrate on the views of a few thinkers in depth: Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley and Hume. 3 hrs. lect.