Introductory description

This module will concentrate on the two greatest early modern rationalists, Spinoza and Leibniz, both of whom exercised a significant influence on later philosophers, such as Kant, Hegel and Deleuze. We will devote at least six weeks to studying Spinoza's major work, the Ethics, and then look at some of Leibniz's shorter works and letters (principally the Discourse on Metaphysics and the Correspondence with Arnauld). Among the topics we will cover are: the nature of substance, and the relations between God and the world, between body and mind, and between necessity and freedom. In particular, we will consider (by studying Spinoza) whether God should be understood as a transcendent being or as immanent within the world, and whether the mind and body interact with one another or are in fact expressions of the same thing. We will also consider (by studying Leibniz) whether individual differences between people can be reconciled with an ordered world, and whether we can be said to be free by necessity.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Weeks 1-2: Spinoza’s metaphysics of substance (Ethics, Book 1).
Weeks 3-4: Spinoza on the mind-body relation (Ethics, Book 2)
Week 5: Spinoza on the emotions (Ethics, Books 3 and 4)
Week 7: Spinoza on freedom (Ethics, Book 5)
Week 8: Leibniz’s metaphysics (Discourse on Metaphysics)
Week 9: Leibniz on freedom and necessity (Discourse on Metaphysics and Correspondence with Arnauld)
Week 10: Leibniz on the mind-body relation (Correspondence with Arnauld and Specimen Dynamicum)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand and assess critically and intelligently texts and arguments in this field;
• Present ideas and arguments in a clear and rigorous fashion, both orally and in written form;
• Students should have acquired knowledge and understanding of the key issues and disputes in early modern rationalism.

Indicative reading list

Primary Texts

Spinoza:
Benedict de Spinoza, A Spinoza Reader. The Ethics and Other Works, ed. E. Curley (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994), or
Benedict de Spinoza, Ethics, ed, E. Curley (London: Penguin, 1996) [this includes Curley’s translation of the Ethics in the Princeton edition above, but contains no other texts by Spinoza], or
Baruch Spinoza, The Ethics and Selected Letters, trans. S. Shirley (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1982).
Also helpful will be: B. Spinoza, The Letters, trans. S. Shirley (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995).

Leibniz :
G.W. Leibniz, Philosophical Texts, eds. R.S. Woolhouse and R. Francks (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998) [contains Discourse on Metaphysics, a selection from the Correspondence with Arnauld, Monadology and other texts], or
G.W. Leibniz, Philosophical Essays, trans. R. Ariew and D. Garber (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1989) [also contains Discourse on Metaphysics, Monadology and other texts, but includes a shorter selection from the Correspondence with Arnauld than the OUP collection]

Secondary Texts

A Companion to Early Modern Philosophy, ed. S. Nadler (Oxford: Blackwell, 2002, 2008).
The Blackwell Guide to the Modem Philosophers: From Descartes to Nietzsche, ed. S. Emmanuel (Oxford: Blackwell, 2001).
R.S. Woolhouse, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz: The Concept of Substance in Seventeenth-Century Metaphysics (London: Routledge, 1993).
The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza, ed. D. Garrett (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996) .
H. Allison, Benedict de Spinoza: An Introduction, revised edition (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987).
E. Curley, Behind the Geometrical Method. A Reading of Spinoza’s Ethics (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988).
M. Della Rocca, Spinoza (London: Routledge, 2008).
S. Nadler, Spinoza’s Ethics. An Introduction (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006).
The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz, ed. N. Jolley (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1995).
S. Brown, Leibniz (Brighton: Harvester, 1984).
N. Jolley, Leibniz (London: Routledge, 2005).

Subject specific skills

Students should be able to express themselves using precise philosophical vocabulary, appreciate what makes some questions about decision making distinctly philosophical ones, and engage independently in philosophical debate.

Transferable skills

The ability to analyse, evaluate, criticise and apply complex information gathered from reading, reflection, reasoning or communication. The ability to effectively manage schedules and deadlines.