Module overview
According to rationalists, we can discover important truths about reality through the use of reason alone. The Rationalists of the 17th century, such as Descartes, Malebranche, Spinoza, and Leibniz, helped to found modern philosophy. In their seminal works, they introduced or cast in a new light fundamental questions about human beings and their place in the universe. The aim of this module is introduce you to some of the key ideas and arguments of the Rationalists, and the problems and challenges they face. You will explore such questions as: What can we know about the world? What is the fundamental nature of reality? Is the mind distinct from the body? Is there a God? What room is there for freedom of thought and action in a law-governed universe?