Duration
45h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in philosophy | 5 crédits | |||
| Master in history, research focus | 5 crédits |
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
Descartes and Spinoza
This course aims to approach modern philosophy through two preeminent figures of the 17th century: Descartes and Spinoza. We will first examine Descartes' metaphysics, as it is developped in the Metaphysical Meditations, in order to understand its main structures. We will then turn to Spinoza to apprehend the continuities and transformations of the Cartesian heritage, but also to understand the radical novelty of Spinozism, particularly through a reading of Book I of the Ethics.
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 2 main parts devoted to Descartes' and Spinoza's main metaphysical conceptions. 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
Further information:
Duration and period : 45 hours, 1st quadrimester
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
Works :
- R. Descartes, Metaphysical Meditations, Meditations I, II and III.
- Spinoza, Ethics, Books I and II.
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)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
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 Thursday (10:00-11:00) or by appointment.