Mind and World

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?

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

some of the central issues raised in the work of rationalist philosophers.
the rationalist project, its motivations, and the problems it faces.
the relationship between the views of the rationalists and contemporary discussions of the topics in question.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
work as part of a team in your essay group meetings on the analysis and evaluation of texts.
take notes from talks and written materials.
work effectively to deadlines.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions.
present and debate ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures
In-class discussion
Essay group tutorials

Learning activities include

Attending lectures
Contributing to discussion in lectures and tutorials
Doing research for and writing assessed essays
Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module

In the lectures, you will not only be introduced to the philosophical issues central to this module and the ideas of the philosophers studied but also encouraged to think about them for yourself. Your own ideas and any difficulties you encounter can be raised and discussed in essay group meetings. The writing of essays should involve you in thinking deeply about the relevant issues and texts.

Study time
Type	Hours
Wider reading or practice	30
Preparation for scheduled sessions	50
Completion of assessment task	30
Seminar	7
Lecture	33
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Descartes. Meditations on First Philosophy.

J Cottingham (1988). The Rationalists. Oxford University Press.

Spinoza. Ethics.

Leibniz. Discourse on Metaphysics.

Malebranche. The Search After Truth.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Draft essay

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Timed Assignment	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External