Duration
45h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
States of mind. The ego and its critics.
The course proposes to approach modern philosophy through the study of the notion of subject: if we usually consider that the Cartesian ego as a center and a foundation of knowledge is the very basis of our modernity, the course would like to show that the questioning of this centrality and the critical redefinition of the subject is also an important a specific philosophical gesture during the Modern period. We will focus on the way Descartes places the ego at the basis of all knowledge and then study how Spinoza, Hume, Kant, and other modern philosophers, question the Cartesian view of subjectivity and invite us to rethink the reality, unity and autonomy of the subject.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The goal of this course is to help students acquire a firm knowledge of fundamental philosophical writings and to give access to the doctrine of each author so that students will be able to explain its arguments and to discuss them.
The course implies both the historical knowledge of philosophical ideas and the ability to use them as an individual.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
At least one Philosophy course
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course will fall into 4 main parts devoted to the philosophical conceptions of the ego in Descartes, Spinoza, Hume and Kant. For each of them a presentation focusing on large extracts of their principal writings will be proposed.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Duration and period : 45 hours, 1st quadrimester
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
xxx
Recommended or required readings
On the notion of modernity:
E. Cassirer, La philosophie des Lumières, ch. 1, "L'esprit du siècle des Lumières".
J. Habermas, Le discours philosophique de la modernité, ch. 1, p. 1-26.
P. Sloterdijk, texts taken from Globes and Le Palais de Cristal.
Works :
- R. Descartes, Metaphysical Meditations, Meditations I to II.
- R. Descartes, Rules for the Direction of the Mind, Rules 1 to 12.
- B. Spinoza, Ethics, Books I and II.
- D. Hume, Inquiry concerning human understanding.
- E. Kant, Critique of Pure Reason.
Editions used in class will be specified at the beginning of the course, as well as secundary literature to help the students in their reading and learning.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
3-hour writing examination including 2 questions on the course itself and 1 explanation of a short text taken from mandatory readings.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Olivier Dubouclez
Departement of Philosophy
History of Modern Philosophy
Place du 20-Août, 7
B-4000 Liège
email: Olivier.Dubouclez@uliege.be
I receive students on Tuesday (12:00-13:00) or by appointment.