Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0228 - Mind in the Material World

Mind in the Material World will draw on texts from Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. We will examine the fundamental distinction between mind and matter as it is initially proposed by Descartes and later challenged by Leibniz; the argument against the existence of matter as it appears in Berkeley; skepticism about the very nature of substance, whether material or spiritual, as it occurs in Locke and Hume; and, finally, the conceptions of mind, particularly as this concerns rationality and selfhood, which are developed by each of these thinkers. Texts: Descartes Meditations and Principles; Leibniz's Discourse on Metaphysics; excerpts from Locke's Essay; Berkeley's Three Dialogues; and excerpts from Hume's Treatise.

Independent Work Writing and Research In this course, students are expected to spend 3-4 hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.