This course is taught in Spanish at Pontificia Universidad Católica and may not be offered every semester. The course studies the philosophy of Rene Descartes from his very first works. The class will emphasize his philosophy of mind, and his ideas of epistemology and moral philosophy. We will analyze in what sense the philosophy of Descartes is opposed to the scholastic philosophy and marks a post-Aristotelian cognitive turn. We will discuss why the metaphysics of Descartes is considered rationalist, and his postulates about physics and physiology, both empiricist and mechanistic. In addition, we will address the topic of the ideal of rationality among thinkers and intellectuals of the 17th century.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to
- Distinguish the main doctrines of the rationalist system in the 17th century
- Describe how Descartes retains an interest in Metaphysics or primordial Philosophy
- Show that the metaphysics of substance of Aristotle and the scholastic philosophy are treated by Descartes in a programmatic way
- Reflect on the idea of morality in the Cartesian system.
Matriculated Syracuse students: You may not earn credit for both this course and PHI 311. Counts as elective for Philosophy minors; elective or history requirement for Philosophy majors.
(PUC #FIL004)
Department: Philosophy
Location: Santiago
Credits: 3