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
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 Malebranche, 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, Malebranche 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)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Duration and period : 45 hours, 1st quadrimester
Recommended or required readings
Works :
- R. Descartes, Metaphysical Meditations, Meditations I to II.
- R. Descartes, Rules for the Direction of the Mind, Rules 1 to 12.
- N. Malebranche, Dialogs on Metaphysics and on Religion, Paris, Vrin, 2017.
- 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
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Additional information:
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 (12:30-14:00) or by appointment.