Professor Matthew Leisinger

mleising@yorku.ca

This course is an introduction to topics in eighteenth-century European philosophy, focusing in particular on the tradition in eighteenth-century British philosophy that originates with John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. This course presupposes no prior knowledge of philosophy, although it does pick up and develop some of the topics and themes of AP/PHIL 2020 (“Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz”). We will begin with a detailed introduction to Locke’s Essay before going on to study how later figures built upon and responded to Locke’s views, both in moral philosophy (Cockburn, Hutcheson, Hume, Smith) and in metaphysics and epistemology (Berkeley, Hume, Shepherd, Reid). We will also pay special attention to the complex relationship between eighteenth-century British philosophy and the rise of modern racism.

Technical requirements for taking the course:

This course will be fully asynchronous.  All course materials, including readings, will be available via Moodle.

The instructor will be available to students asynchronously via email and Moodle discussion. The instructor will also be available synchronously for virtual office hours via Zoom. These office hours are optional and attendance at office hours will not be required in any way. Nonetheless, in order to participate in synchronous office hours, students will require Zoom video-conferencing software, a working microphone (webcam optional), and a stable, higher-speed Internet connection.

Times and locations:

Please note that this is a course that depends on remote teaching and learning. There will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus.

Virtual office hours:

The instructor will be available synchronously for virtual office hours via Zoom, both by appointment and regularly at a time TBD.

Readings from: John Locke, Catherine Trotter Cockburn, Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith, David Hume, George Berkeley, Mary Shepherd, Thomas Reid, and others TBD.

All texts will be available online.

For students who prefer physical texts, the following recommended (NOT required) editions will be available from the bookstore. These are the texts that we will be reading for more than one full week (three in the case of Locke’s Essay, two in the case of Hume’s Enquiry).

• John Locke. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Edited by Roger Woolhouse. London: Penguin Books. ISBN: 9780140434828
• David Hume. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Edited by Peter Millican. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780199549900

20%    Weekly assignments (graded for completion)

20%    First exam

30%    Second exam

30%    Short paper

The entire course, including the submission of assignments and test-taking, will take place online via eClass. Although we are scheduled to meet at particular times and days of the week, this course has no live virtual meetings outside of office hours. The course will be structured around weekly recorded lectures, readings, and study questions, all available via Moodle.

Upon completing this course, students will be able:

• To explain and evaluate some of the major ideas and arguments of eighteenth-century European philosophy
• To analyze passages from eighteenth-century philosophical texts
• To work collaboratively with other students to understand philosophical texts

Grading:  The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.).  Each assignment will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g.  A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.)

(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar - http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/2010-2011/academic/index.htm

Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time.  Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment.  All assignments are to be handed in via eClass.

Lateness Penalty: Late submissions will not be accepted for participation in online discussion. Late submissions will be accepted for exams and essays but will be penalized one-half letter grade per day. Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).

Missed Assignments:  Students with a documented reason for missing a course assignment, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor