Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - PHIL 854 G100

Selected Topics in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy (5)

Modality in Modern Philosophy

Class Number: 7440

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Wed, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Selected Topics: Modality in Early Modern Philosophy

 [Note: this course is to be taught concurrently with PHIL 451W.]

Important note regarding enrollment: All seats are reserved for Philosophy Graduate students. Enrollments from other departments will be considered only upon submission of the Graduate Course Add Form, and with instructor's permission. All such enrollments will be done in or after the first week of classes.

This course will approach the systematic philosophical theories of some of the great early modern philosophers by asking after their theories of modality: their accounts of existence, necessity and possibility. Theories of modality flourished in the early modern period and were largely developed in the context of the rational theology that animated rationalism in the period. Nevertheless, many of the questions entertained by early modern philosophers are echoed in contemporary discussions of modality. For example, early modern philosophers engaged in a rich debate over the notion of essence and its relation to modal concepts. Furthermore, the notion of a possible world is first articulated and put to explanatory use in the early modern period.

We will proceed by topic rather than by philosopher. Our first topic will be essence and its connection to existence. We will examine the medieval origin of the ontological argument for the existence of God and its ascendancy and ultimate downfall in the 17th and 18th centuries. We’ll then turn to necessity and contingency. Are these notions explicable in terms of essence? Or do they explain the notion of essence? Does rationalism entail necessitarianism, or can the rationalist make room for genuine contingency (and thus freedom of action)? Finally, we’ll consider early modern theories of the ground of possibility: in virtue of what are facts about possibility true? Virtually all theories contend that possibility is grounded in the divine, but they disagree about the feature of God that plays the relevant explanatory role. Some contend that it is divine volition. Others the divine intellect. And others still say that possibility is grounded in the divine nature. But can we be sure that God is possible? How might we prove this?

We shall read selections from Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Baumgarten, Hume and Kant along with a wide selection of secondary literature.

 

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Successful completion of this course will satisfy the “History of Philosophy” distribution requirement toward the MA degree for Philosophy graduate students.

Grading

  • 6 short response papers (300 – 600 words) 25%
  • A final term paper, with required draft and revisions (4500 words minimum) 75%

NOTES:

Course delivery: in person


Materials

REQUIRED READING:

* Spinoza, Ethics. Hackett. ISBN: 9780872201309.

* Leibniz, Philosophical Essays (Ariew and Garber, eds.) ISBN: 9780872200623.

* All other readings will be made available on Canvas or through the library website.


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.