Philosophy
Current Students: Undergraduates
Core Modules and Options at Level 9
PHI9S4 - Locke and Berkeley
John Locke and George Berkeley are the two central figures of the empiricist strand in early modern philosophy. As empiricists they agreed in the emphasis they placed on experience as the source of our knowledge of the physical world. But they disagreed fundamentally both about the nature of the physical world, and about the extent to which our experience can provide us with well-founded knowledge of it. The module aims to explain this disagreement, and its ramifications through broader issues in metaphysics and epistemology.
Outcomes
- Knowledge and understanding of the central metaphysical and epistemological doctrines of two leading figures in the history of early modern philosophy.
- The ability to engage closely with historical texts.
- Ability to think critically and analytically about the topics covered.
Reading
You will need to buy your own copy of the following primary texts:
| John Locke | An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, edited by K Winkler. | Hackett, 1996. |
| George Berkeley | Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues, edited by Howard Robinson. | Oxford University Press, World's Classics Edition, 1996. |
Availability: |
Honours (semester 4 or 6), 3 Year and General Degree |
|---|---|
Prerequisite: |
The module is open to any students who have any two of PHI911, PHI912 or PHI913. |
Assessment: |
Coursework (one required essay) 50%; final examination (3 questions in 3 hours) 50%. Students may choose to submit a second essay to improve their coursework grade. |
Teaching Pattern: |
Two one-hour lectures and one one-hour seminar each week |
Regulations: |
For the purposes of the University’s attendance regulation 14, seminars are prescribed classes. The rationale for prescribing these classes may be found in the Philosophy Student Handbook, section F. This section also contains regulations relating to the submission of coursework, and other matters. |
Please contact Peter Sullivan if you would like to know more about this module.