Loyola University Chicago

Department of Philosophy

PHIL 397: Capstone Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy

PHIL 397: Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy

Generic Catalog Description

This course will study selected issues from early modern philosophy.  Course intended for philosophy majors.  Students should have completed five philosophy courses, including Phil. 309. 


PHIL 397: Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy: Kant

Victoria Wike

This course will provide a focused look at Immanuel Kant’s critical philosophy.  We will read much of the Critique of Pure Reason and the entire Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.  Depending on the time and the background of class members, we may also read sections of other works such as the Critique of Practical Reason, Metaphysics of Morals, and “On the Supposed Right to Lie.”  Our aim will be to understand Kant’s project, to see its origins, its presuppositions, and its conclusions.  We will consider Kant’s contributions to metaphysics and ethics by analyzing what he says about the nature, limitations, and capabilities of our faculty of reason.

This will be a true seminar class with students sharing questions and text summaries in class, presenting final papers in class, and writing peer reviews of others’ work.


PHIL 397: Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy: Hume

Mark Waymack

This seminar will consider the philosophical work of David Hume. It will begin by exploring Hume’s epistemological and metaphysical skepticism, then grapple with his contribution to ethics. We will have to consider whether his ethics project is actually compatible with or in conflict with his epistemology. In the final weeks, we will briefly consider some of his Essays.