Academic Catalogs

PHIL G140: History of Modern Philosophy

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 10/05/2021
Top Code 150900 - Philosophy
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • GWC Arts, Lit, Phil, Lang (GC)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)

Course Description

This course addresses 16th through 18th century Western philosophy with emphasis on the broad epistemological and/or metaphysical developments of empiricist and rationalist philosophers from Descartes through Kant. The course may include approximate precursors and/or successors. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: PHIL 140.C-ID: PHIL 140.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Course Outcomes
  2. Employ analytical philosophical skills, particularly critical reading and writing.
  3. Explicate philosophical texts of the Early Modern Western Philosophers.
  4. Analyze primary theories and influence of the Early Modern Western Philosophers with special emphasis on Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.
  5. Analyze arguments, assumptions, principles, and methods in their historical contexts.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Employ critical philosophical skills to accurately interpret the positions of 16th to 18th century philosophers, based on readings of their primary texts.
  • 2. Analyze and evaluate arguments, assumptions, principles, and methods of 16th through 18th century philosophers.
  • 3. Explain the goals and approaches of major Western European philosophers from the 16th century through the 18th century.
  • 4. Evaluate the sources of knowledge and their use in the relevant philosophical positions of rationalism and empiricism.
  • 5. Compare and contrast the two major early-modern positions or schools of thought (rationalism and empiricism) with respect to: a. Sources of knowledge b. Concept acquisition c. Evidence or d. Justification
  • 6. Compare the Theory of Ideas in Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.

Lecture Content

Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Spinoza Spinozas Methods Ethics Leibniz Discourse on Metaphysics Locke An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Topics in Epistemology, such as the theory of ideas Berkeley Principles of Human Knowledge Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology, such as the master argument Hume Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Topics in Epistemology, such as Humes understanding of skepticism Kant Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics Topics in Metaphysics, such as Idealism

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture Minute papers or other in-class reflections Formative (peer-reviewed) reflections online or in-class Discussions, online and/or in-class Group projects/presentations  Argumentative papers (ideas draft and final draft)

Reading Assignments

Students will read primary and secondary texts.

Writing Assignments

Students will write minute papers, formative assessments, peer-review and argumentative papers.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will have out-of-class (online) discussions and group projects.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

1. Analyze the structure of philosophical writing  2. Analyze philosophical arguments; identify premises and conclusions  3. Evaluate philosophical arguments  4.Identify consequences and implications of philosophical positions  5.Compare and contrast philosophical positions

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Classroom performance, written essays, tests.

Eligible Disciplines

Philosophy: Masters degree in philosophy OR bachelors degree in philosophy AND masters degree in humanities or religious studies, OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Ott, Walter. Modern Philosophy (Classic), ed. OER, 2013 Rationale: Open source textbook that compiles all of the central readings from this period of philosophy.

Other Resources

1. Reading materials must include strong representation of primary texts.  Primary texts should be drawn from such readings as:Descartes, Discourse on MethodDescartes, Meditations on First PhilosophyLeibniz, Discourse on MetaphysicsLeibniz, MonadologyBerkeley, Principles of Human KnowledgeBerkeley, Three DialoguesHume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingHume, Treatise of Human NatureLocke, An Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingLocke, Two Treatises of GovernmentSpinoza, EthicsHobbes, LeviathanRousseau, Discourse on the Origin of InequalityRousseau, The Social ContractKant, Prolegomena to Any Future MetaphysicsKant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals