PHL 210Y
17th- and 18th-Century Philosophy

Focus on understanding the major concepts; use the texts to help you do this.

Please note that the Second Semester Outline has been placed online.

Today we finished Leibniz by looking at the Monadology.

For next week, study for your test!

Office hours this week are Friday, from 2:00-3:00, in SS2115.

We continued to discuss the Discourse, then did evaluations and handed back papers.

Reading for Next Week: Monadology

Office Hours this week from 2:00 to 3:00 Friday in SS2115.

In class we discussed Molinism in a very simple and stripped-down way. Those who are interested in the details might consider starting with the following online resources:

* Catholic Encyclopedia article on Molinism.

* Middle Knowledge, Truth–Makers, and the “Grounding Objection” by William Lane Craig discusses a common objection against Molinism.

Today we discussed Leibniz, looking at some ways in which he is similar to Molina and some ways in which he is very different.

Reading for next week: Finish the Discourse.

I will have regular office hours this week (Friday, 2:30-4:00, in SS 2115).

Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to drop late papers at the department. It is not the responsibility of office staff to ferry your papers to me. It is your responsibility, and yours alone, to make arrangements to deliver papers to me. Also, YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO PUT LATE PAPERS IN MY CAMPUS MAILBOX. This is contrary to Department policy.

Second, it is not the responsibility of TAs to make it easier for you to drop off a late paper.

If you have a late paper email me at:

phl210y@branemrys.org

Please make sure you get the email address right. I am not responsible for email that doesn’t get to me because you send it to the wrong address.

Remember, until the paper actually gets to me you and you alone are responsible for it. No one else is responsible if it is lost or late because of your failure.

Today we began our look at Leibniz’s Discourse.

Readings: Keep reading the Discourse. (You should be at least halfway through by next lecture.)

I will have office hours this Friday, from 2:30-4:00, in SS2115. My email address is:

phl210y@branemrys.org

Don’t forget the ‘y’; some students have, with the result that the email gets lost.

Also, remember that I will need a few days to get back to you, due to the volume of email I receive.

Today is the 250th anniversary of the Lisbon earthquake, which plays an important role in shaping certain aspects of thought in the eighteenth century. Scott McLemee discusses some of the issues in his article, Dialectics of Disaster

Today we looked briefly at Malebranche, looking at some of the arguments involved in his ontologism and his occasionalism.

Readings for next week: (Required) Discourse 1-7.
(optional) get started on the next few sections as well.

No office hours this week. However, I will be on campus early Thursday afternoon, so if you email me tonight I might be able to arrange to meet with you if you need it.

Don’t forget that your essays are due next lecture.