SYLLABUS   PHILOSOPHY 308   PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS:  THE BRITISH EMPIRICISTS

 

SEMESTER II                      Tuesday - Thursday                         11:00 a.m.  -  12:15 p.m.

 

Mr. MacKay        Office hours:    MTWTH 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment (King 120-d)

 

GENERAL AIM OF THE COURSE:  to study some of the major works of John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume.

 

BOOKS                                 John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

                                                George Berkeley, Principles of Human Knowledge 

                                                                                Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous

                                                                                (both included in Philosophical Works)

                                                David Hume,      A Treatise of Human Nature

                                                                                An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding

                                                                                An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals 

                                                Rene Descartes,  Discourse on the Method; Meditations

 

FORMAT  The course will proceed by lecture and discussion.

 

EVALUATION  will be primarily based on two, equally weighted, c. 5000 word, papers:

 

the first, on Locke, Berkeley, or both, will be due at the end of class on Thursday, March 19*

                (the last class before spring break); and

the second, on Berkeley, Hume, or both will be due at the end of the reading period (Tuesday,             May 12#, 4:30 p.m.).  (Not more than one paper should be on Berkeley.)

        (Consultation on papers, including choice of topics, during office hours or by appointment.)

 

Regular attendance is expected@, as are preparation for and participation in class discussions.

                @ In order to receive credit for this course, you must attend at least 18 class sessions

                      (i.e., no more than seven absences), to be self-monitored on the Honor System.

 

                                PROVISIONAL CALENDAR (subject to revision)

 

Feb. 5                     Week 1  Intro/Descartes Discourse & Meditations

Feb. 10 - 12           Week 2  Locke                     Essay   BK I / II

Feb. 17 - 19           Week 3  Locke                     Essay   BK II

Feb. 24 - 26           Week 4  Locke                     Essay   BK III

Mar. 3 - 5              Week 5  Locke                     Essay   BK IV

Mar. 10 - 12         Week 6  Berkeley                Principles

Mar. 17 - 19         Week 7  Berkeley                Principles/Three Dialogues

Thursday, March 19*, 12:15 p.m. First paper due, on Locke, Berkeley, or both

 

                                SPRING BREAK                March 21 - 29

 

Mar. 31 - Apr. 2  Week 8  Berkeley                Three Dialogues

Apr. 7- 9               Week 9  Hume                    Treatise   BK I

Apr. 14 - 16          Week 10                Hume                    Treatise   BK II

Apr. 21 - 23          Week 11                Hume                    Treatise   BK III

Apr. 28 - 30          Week 12                Hume                    Enquiry Conc. Human Understanding

May 5 - 7              Week 13                Hume                    Enquiry Conc. Principles of Morals

 

Tuesday, May 12#, 4:30 p.m.                         Second paper due, on Berkeley, Hume, or both