FFORM 7 Evaluation of university study programmes of undergraduate, graduate and integrated undergraduate and graduate studies, and vocational studies
DESCRIPTION
Table 2. Description of the new course
1. COURSE DECRIPTION – GENERAL INFORMATION1.1.Course teacher / Pavel Gregoric, Associate Professor / 1.6.Year of study / 4 or 5
1.2.Name of the course / On Space, God and Free Will: The Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence / 1.7.Credit value (ECTS) / 5
1.3.Associate teachers / 1.8.Type of instruction (number of hours L+S+E+e-learning) / 2+0+0+0
1.4.Study programme (undergraduate, graduate, integrated) / graduate / 1.9.Expected enrolment in the course / 10
1.5.Status of the course / elective / 1.10. Level of use of e-learning (1, 2, 3 level), percentage of instruction in the course on line (20% maximum) / 1
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION
2.1.Course objectives / A close reading of the correspondence between two prominent philosophers of the Early Modern Period, Samuel Clarke and Gottfried Leibniz, which took place in 1715 and 1716. The course will explore the main philosophical topics discussed in the correspondence: the nature of space (Newtonian absolute space vs. Leibniz’s relative space), the nature of God and His relation to the world, and free will.
2.2.Enrolment requirements and required entry competences for the course / Proficiency in English (level B1required).
2.3.Learning outcomes at the level of the study programme to which the course contributes / Students will be able to:
- describe the intellectual context of the Correspondence
- state the main philosophical views of the two proponents of the Correspondence
- formulatethe difference between Newtonian and Leibniz’s conception of space
- broadly connect the two conceptions of space with Kant’s and Einstein’s conception of space
- contrast Clarke’sand Leibniz’spositions on God’s natureand His relation to the world
- contrast Clarke’s and Leibniz’s views on free will
- state and evaluate Leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason
2.4.Expected learning outcomes at the level of the course (4-10 learning outcomes) / Students will be able to:
- state the basic biographic facts about Newton, Clarke and Leibniz
- summarize the main points of controversy between Newton and Leibniz
- distinguish main conceptions of space and time in the history of philosophy and science
- formulate Leibniz's relevance for Kant and modern relativistic conception of time and space
- state Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason, principle of identity of indiscernibles, and pre-established harmony
- sketch the main positions in the free will debate
- indicate theological controversies in Early Modern Philosophy
2.5. Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus) / 1. Introduction
2. The context and the protagonists of the Correspondence
3.Newton on space, time, gravity and God
4. Leibniz's issues with Newton
5.Analyzing Leibniz's first and second letter and Clarke's replies
6.Religion, God and nature
7.Analyzing Leibniz's third letter and Clarke's reply
8.Space, time and God
9.Earlier conceptions of space and time, Kant and Einstein
10.Analyzing Leibniz's fourth letter and Clarke's reply
11.Extension of the soul and immortality
12.Free will: Clarke's libertarianism and Leibniz's compatibilism
13.Analyzing Leibniz's fifth letter and Clarke's reply
14. Matter, force and Leibniz's principles
15. Overview
2.6.Type of instruction / X lectures
X seminars and workshops
X exercises
online in entirety
mixed e-learning
field work / X independent study
multimedia and the internet
laboratory
work with the mentor
(other) / 2.7.Comments:
Most course materials will be available in electronic format
2.8.Student responsibilities / Attendance, class discussion, one quiz, one essay, final written exam
2.9.Screening of student’s work (specify the proportion of ECTS credits for each activity so that the total number of CTS credits is equal to the credit value of the course)): / Class attendance / 1 / Research / Practical training
Experimental work / Report / Discussion / 0.5
Essay / Seminar essay / 1 / Quiz / 0.5
Tests / Oral exam / (Other—describe)
Written exam / 2 / Project / (Other—describe)
2.1.Grading and evaluation of student work over the course of instruction and at a final exam / Discussion in class 15%
Quiz-test 15%
Essay 20%
Written exam 50%
2.2.Required literature (available at the library and via other media) / Title / Number of copies at the library / Availability via other media
H. G. Alexander, “Introduction”, in The Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence, Manchester, 1956, ix-lvi / pdf
R. Ariew, G.W. Leibniz and Samuel Clarke: Correspondence, Indianapolis and Cambridge, 2000. / pdf
I. Newton, Principa Mathematica and Opticks, tr. [extracts] / pdf
I. Kant, Critique of the Pure Reason, tr. Kemp Smith [extracts] / pdf
E. Vailati, Leibniz and Clarke. A Study of their Correspondence, Oxford, 1997. / doc
2.12.Optional literature (at the time of the submission of the study programme proposal) / S. Clarke, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, Cambridge, 1998.
G. W. Leibniz, Philosophical Essays, Indianapolis and Cambridge, 1989.
F. Perkins, Leibniz: A Guide for the Perplexed, New York, 2007.
N.Jolly (ed.),The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz, Cambridge, 1995.
J. Ferguson, The Philosophy of Dr. Samuel Clarke and Its Critics, New York, 1974.
R. T. W. Arthur, “Space and Relativity in Newton and Leibniz”, British Journal for the History of Science 45 (1994), 220-240.
C. D. Broad, “Leibniz's Last Controversy with the Newtonians”, in R. Woolhouse (ed.), Leibniz: Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science, Oxford, 1981, 157-174.
R. Laymon, “Newton's Bucket Experiment”,Journal of the History of Philosophy 16 (1978), 399-413.
A. Koyré A. and I. B. Cohen, “The Case of the Missing Tanquam: Leibniz, Newton & Clarke”,Isis 52 (1961), 555-566.
S. Shapin, “Of Gods and Kings: Natural Philosophy and Politics in the Leibniz-Clarke Disputes”,Isis 72 (1981), 187-215.
2.13.Methods of monitoring quality that ensure acquisition of exit competences / Student poll organised by the University
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