Aktuelle Lehrveranstaltungen aller Lehrender des Philosophischen Seminars

(PS) The Problem of Causality in Early Modern Philosophy

Dozent:innen: Serena Lander
Kurzname: PS Causality
Kurs-Nr.: 05.127.050
Kurstyp: Proseminar

Empfohlene Literatur

Reading List

Descartes

  1. Third Meditation

Malebranche

  1. Dialogue Seven

Gassendi

  1. Saul Fisher - Pierre Gassendi's Philosophy and Science: Atomism for Empiricists
  2. Motion and Morality: Pierre Gassendi, Thomas Hobbes and the Mechanical World-View

Joseph Priestly

  1. Disquisitions Relating to Matter and Spirit. Section V

Hume

  1. Treatise Concerning Human Nature Book I Part IV

Hume

  1. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Section III

Hume

  1. Don Garrett - Hume

Mill

  1. Millgram - Mill

Leibniz

  1. On Freedom (pg94)

Kant

  1. The Second Analogy

Kant

  1. §14 to §24 of Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics

Kant

  1. Eric Watkins - Kant

Hegel

  1. Doctrine of Essence (especially re. Kant)

Overview/Contemporary approaches

  1. David Lewis Causation


Additional Reading

A Commentary on Kant's "Dreams of a Spirit-Seer"

Inhalt

With the vast developments in science occurring from the 17th Century, philosophers became increasingly interested in how we can explain causal phenomena. The following course will look at the problem of causation in Early Modern Philosophy and its relevance to the philosophy of science, free will and theology. Each reading will give a detailed overview of each philosopher’s theory of how causation is possible with respect to their wider philosophy and metaphysics. Over this course we will tackle Hume’s well-known scepticism of causation, and Kant’s response to this, as well as various other theories such as Descartes and Malebranche’s theological arguments.

1. Readings and Content

All readings will be made available prior to the course on Moodle.

This course will presented in English.

The timetable below specifies the topics and readings for each week. For each week there is at least one essential reading, which may be accompanied by one or more optional readings. Please ensure that you complete these readings before that week’s seminar.

You will struggle to follow and participate in this module unless you keep up with the readings. Many of the texts we cover in this module are complex and written in highly technical language. Don’t expect to skim them, but take your time to fully appreciate them.

2. Seminars

These weekly 90 minute seminars will examine the readings in more detail.

While seminar attendance is not mandatory, there is a strong correlation between seminar attendance and good performance in philosophy.

3. Active Participation

You may either receive a grade for this course (see Section 4), or engage in "active participation" (see below).

If you wish to choose the active participation route, then you must over the course produce the following:

3.1 Exegesis and Critique

This is a page length document consisting of approximately two sections (two lengthy paragraphs is fine).

The first paragraph should explain the key points of the literature you are discussing and provide a detailed overview of their argument. The second paragraph will be an objection you have found to the view stated in the first paragraph. Outline this objection and show why it is philosophically problematic.

AND EITHER 3.2 OR 3.3

3.2 Presentation

A 10 minute presentation explaining to the class the key points from the argument.

3.3 Introduction Paragraph

Write an introduction paragraph outlining a hypothetical THESIS that you could use for an essay. Be sure to outline a clear argument!

4. Hausarbeit

In order to get a grade and full credit for this course ("benoteter Schein") you must complete an essay on a topic from my list of term paper topics.

As per the university’s norm in philosophy, paper length may be as follows:

  1. B.A./B.Ed., M.Ed. approximately 25000 characters with spaces (with a deviation of 10% over or under allowed)
  2. M.A. approximately 45000 characters with spaces (with a deviation of 10% over or under allowed)

+ + + + + + + + + +

If you have any queries about readings, accessing journals or want further suggestions, don’t hesitate to email me at landerse@uni-mainz.de.

Termine

Datum (Wochentag) Zeit Ort
21.04.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
28.04.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
05.05.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
12.05.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
19.05.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
02.06.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
09.06.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
23.06.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
30.06.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
07.07.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
14.07.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie
21.07.2022 (Donnerstag) 12:15 - 13:45 01 171 HS 21
1231 - Physikalische Chemie