Hidden Voices in Early Modern Philosophy

Module title	Hidden Voices in Early Modern Philosophy
Module code	PHL2127
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Kirsten Walsh (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	40

Module description

If you’ve studied even a little bit of early modern philosophy, you could be forgiven for thinking that traditionally philosophy was only practiced by wealthy white men. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, the early modern period is significant for its high levels of philosophical activity, and diversity of philosophical thought. However, the tendency to focus on the work of the ‘Canonical Seven’, Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, Leibniz, Berkeley, Hume and Kant, has led to the marginalisation of many philosophers of the period. This module begins to redress this imbalance by showcasing the writings of some of the women and other minority philosophers who were silenced by the philosophical canon. We shall explore topics such as metaphysics, epistemology, morality, and feminism through the writings of philosophers such as Anne Conway, Margaret Cavendish, Damaris Cudworth Masham and Mary Astell—the hidden voices of early modern philosophy.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Students will gain name-recognition of, and appreciation for, some non-canonical early modern philosophers. They will gain some knowledge of why these philosophers have been largely ignored, as well as what we gain by studying them. Through the work of these non-canonical philosophers, students will gain a good understanding of some key philosophical problems addressed during the early modern period, including their rationale and various attempts at solving them. By making a critical study of these topics, focusing on primary texts, students’ skills in the analysis, evaluation and presentation of arguments will be enhanced.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Identify and discuss the questions, themes and topics addressed by some early modern philosophers.
2. Distinguish and evaluate certain positions and arguments within early modern philosophy.
3. Read and understand early modern philosophical texts in their historical and philosophical context.
4. Critically reflect on the methodological challenges of exploring the work of non-canonical philosophers.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Demonstrate a good understanding of the interrelation between historical events and philosophical developments.
6. Demonstrate sound knowledge of different types of philosophical analysis.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Demonstrate an expanded philosophical vocabulary and understanding with respect to key ideas in early modern philosophy.
8. Engage in complex arguments both orally and through writing.
9. Conduct research independently engaging with complex ideas and problems.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some of the following topics:

1) Gender and the Philosophical Canon.

2) Margaret Cavendish and The Blazing World.

3) Anne Conway and Principles of Ancient and Modern Philosophy

4) Emilie Du Chatelet and Physical Institutions

5) Mary Astell and A Serious Proposal to the Ladies

6) Catharine Trotter Cockburn and A Defense of Mr. Locke’s Essay of Human Understanding

7) Lady Mary Shepherd and Essays on the Perception of an External Universe

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar
Guided Independent Study	45	Preparation for lectures and tutorial participation including reading, and preparing reading reports and answers to tutorial questions.
Guided Independent Study	83	Independent research for the first and final essays.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Final Essay Draft	Draft of final essay	1-9	Peer review

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Reading reports	10	750 words	1-4	Written and Oral
Essay	30	1000 words	1-8	Written
Final Essay	60	2000 words	1-9	Written
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Reading reports	Literature summary (750 words)	1-4	August/September reassessment period
First Essay	Essay (1000 words)	1-8	August/September reassessment period
Final Essay	Essay (2000 words)	1-9	August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Atherton, Margaret (Ed.) (1994), Women Philosophers of the Early Modern Period, Hackett Publishing Company.
Broad, Jacqueline (Ed.) (2020), Women Philosophers of Seventeenth-Century England: Selected Correspondence, Oxford University Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Early Modern Philosophy, 17th-century philosophy, 18th-century philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, Emilie du Chatelet, Anne Conway, Margaret Cavendish, Mary Astell.

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	Yes
Origin date	31/01/2022
Last revision date	17/02/2022