1. Demonstrate familiarity with – specifically, to accurately restate and fluently discuss – the content and significance of selected views of at least three of these early modern philosophers: René Descartes, Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia, Margaret Cavendish, John Locke, George Berkeley, Gottfried Leibniz, Thomas Reid and David Hume
2. Explain, differentiate, and classify early modern views on at least three of the following philosophical problems in the areas of epistemology, metaphysics and the philosophy of mind: mind-body dualism, external world scepticism, the nature of perceptual knowledge, the role of ideas in thought and knowledge, the nature of causation and necessity, the character of physical reality, and the question of freedom and determinism.
3. Analyse and interpret written texts (original and translated) from a variety of European cultures in the early modern period in order to clarify their structure and express their main arguments and conclusions.
4. Examine and evaluate (as valid and/or sound) the arguments and conclusions of early modern philosophers, with some reference to the contemporary significance of those arguments and conclusions.
5. Prepare, refine, and express extended written arguments concerning the correct interpretation of early modern philosophical texts and the correctness of those texts thus interpreted, following disciplinary norms for the construction of such arguments.
6. Present and defend oral opinions on philosophical and interpretative questions arising from engagement with early modern philosophical texts.

The course is primarily focused on the original texts. Some of them we pick bits out of, and the relevant portions will be made available electronically through MyUni.
But we will be reading almost the entirety of two short and extremely influential texts: Descartes’ Meditations, and Hume’s Enquiry. I recommend the following editions, though you will be able to get by with other editions too.

• René Descartes (1641), Meditations on First Philosophy, with selections from the objections and replies. Edited and translated by John Cottingham, revised edition 1996, Cambridge University Press, ISBN-13: 9780521558181.
• David Hume (1748), An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Edited by Tom L Beauchamp, 1999, Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 9780198752486.

Students might the following companion books useful, especially if they are beginning reading some of the texts before semester begins:

• Hatfield, G. (2003) Descartes and the Meditations. London: Routledge.
• Noonan, H.W. (1999) Hume on Knowledge. London: Routledge.
• Bennett, J. (2001) Learning From Six Philosophers (Vols. 1 & 2). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

This course implements SGDE in every teaching session by means of the ‘jigsaw classroom’ technique (https://www.jigsaw.org/). Students will be assigned to 4 or 5 ‘topic groups’ (how many will depend on total enrolment), which determine the topic-prompt questions to which they have access prior to class. In each class period, students will congregate first in larger topic groups to discuss the topic question they answered and clarify opinions on the range of viable answers (15–30 minutes). After a short break, students will disperse into small jigsaw groups each containing 1 student for each topic group to discuss and exchange ideas on all the questions set for that week (30–45 mins). During all stages of group discussion, lecturers will circulate from group to group, offering feedback and intervening in discussion if needed.

Weekly online quizzes (and associated class and group discussion)
Students will be required to submit answers to discussion prompts prior to teaching sessions to inform and stimulate small and large group discussion during contact hours. Marks will be credited for participation in online activities rather than for quality of quiz or class discussion performance. (See relevant further details under SGDE below.)

500 word essay
Students will be required to write a primarily exegetical essay focusing on a single significant passage from a philosophical text of their choice encountered in weeks 1–3 of the course.

1500 word essay
Students will be required to write a short research essay explaining and evaluating the philosophical content and significance of a philosophical text of their choice encountered in the first half of the course.

2500 word essay
Students will be required to write a longer research essay explaining and evaluating the philosophical content and significance of a philosophical text of their choice encountered in the second half of the course.