Introduction to Early Modern European Philosophy

By 1600, medieval scholasticism was in disrepute. What new philosophy would grow up to accommodate the insights arising from the cataclysmic changes in geography, religion and science? In this course, we will examine Descartes' attempt to found a new philosophy, some responses to his attempt, and Hume's reassertion of scepticism. We will then took at Kant's attempt to reconcile Humean scepticism with the certainty of Newtonian physics. Finally, we will examine Hegel's attempt to synthesize history, mathematics, science, art, and religion into a comprehensive philosophical system.
Our primary focus in this course will be the metaphysical and epistemological problems raised by the Scientific Revolution; but we will also spend some time ccnsidering the reception of these Ideas by other philosophers and by society at large.