In this course we will study the writings of Rene Descartes, David Hume, and William James, whose works span the roughly 300 year period beginning from the early seventeenth century till the first decade of the twentieth century.  Each of these philosophers developed a comprehensive view about the human person and his or her place in the world.  In doing so, each gives quite different answers to perennial questions such as how we come to know the world, whether the belief in the existence of God can be justified, and whether we are free.  The goal of the course is to understand how each philosopher was led to such different answers to these fundamental questions, and thus to quite different views of human nature and the human condition.

Texts: 

1) Rene Descartes,  Philosophical Essays and Correspondence, ed. Roger Ariew (Hackett Publishing Company, 2000). Paperback. ISBN: 0872205029. $16.95.

2) David Hume,  An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Stephen Buckle (Cambridge University Press, 2007). Paperback.  ISBN: 0521604036.  $22.99

3) David Hume,  Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, ed. Dorothy Coleman (Cambridge University Press, 2007).  Paperback. ISBN: 0521603595. $21.99.

4) William James, Essays in Pragmatism (Hafner Press, 1948).  Paperback. ISBN: 0028471407. $16.95