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FORM 7 Evaluation of university study programmes of undergraduate, graduate and
integrated undergraduate and graduate studies, and vocational studies
DESCRIPTION
Table 2. Description of the new course
1. COURSE DECRIPTION – GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1. Course teacher
Pavel Gregoric, Associate Professor
On Space, God and Free Will: The
1.2. Name of the course
Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence
1.6. Year of study
1.3. Associate teachers
1.8. Type of instruction (number of hours
L+S+E+e-learning)
1.4. Study programme (undergraduate,
graduate, integrated)
graduate
elective
1.5. Status of the course
1.7. Credit value (ECTS)
1.9. Expected enrolment in the course
1.10. Level of use of e-learning (1, 2, 3
level), percentage of instruction in the
course on line (20% maximum)
4 or 5
5
1+0+1+0
10
1
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION
2.1. Course objectives
2.2. Enrolment requirements and
required entry competences for the
course
2.3. Learning outcomes at the level of
the study programme to which the
course contributes
2.4. Expected learning outcomes at the
level of the course (4-10 learning
outcomes)
A close reading of the correspondence between two prominent philosophers of the Early Modern Period, Samuel Clarke and
Gottfried Leibniz, which took place in 1715 and 1716. The course will explore the main philosophical topics discussed in the
correspondence: the nature of space (Newtonian absolute space vs. Leibniz’s relative space), the nature of God and His
relation to the world, and free will.
Proficiency in English (level B1 required).
Students will be able to:
- describe the intellectual context of the Correspondence
- state the main philosophical views of the two proponents of the Correspondence
- formulate the difference between Newtonian and Leibniz’s conception of space
- broadly connect the two conceptions of space with Kant’s and Einstein’s conception of space
- contrast Clarke’s and Leibniz’s positions on God’s nature and His relation to the world
- contrast Clarke’s and Leibniz’s views on the soul-body relation
- contrast Clarke’s and Leibniz’s views on free will
- state and evaluate Leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason
Students will be able to:
- state the basic biographic facts about Newton, Clarke and Leibniz
- summarize the main points of controversy between Newton and Leibniz
- distinguish main conceptions of space and time in the history of philosophy and science
- formulate Leibniz's relevance for Kant and modern relativistic conception of time and space
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F
FORM 7 Evaluation of university study programmes of undergraduate, graduate and
integrated undergraduate and graduate studies, and vocational studies
DESCRIPTION
2.5. Course content broken down in
detail by weekly class schedule
(syllabus)
2.6. Type of instruction
2.8. Student responsibilities
2.9. Screening of student’s work (specify
the proportion of ECTS credits for
each activity so that the total number
of CTS credits is equal to the credit
value of the course)):
2.1. Grading and evaluation of student
work over the course of instruction
and at a final exam
2.2. Required literature (available at the
- state Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason, principle of identity of indiscernibles, and pre-established harmony
- sketch the main positions in the free will debate
- indicate theological controversies in Early Modern Philosophy
1.
Introduction
2.
The context and the protagonists of the Correspondence
3.
Newton on space, time, gravity and God
4.
Leibniz's issues with Newton
5.
Analyzing Leibniz's first and second letter and Clarke's replies
6.
Religion, God and nature
7.
Analyzing Leibniz's third letter and Clarke's reply
8.
Space, time and God
9.
Earlier conceptions of space and time, Kant and Einstein
10.
Analyzing Leibniz's fourth letter and Clarke's reply
11.
Extension of the soul and immortality
12.
Free will: Clarke's libertarianism and Leibniz's compatibilism
13.
Analyzing Leibniz's fifth letter and Clarke's reply
14.
Matter, force and Leibniz's principles
15.
Overview
X lectures
2.7. Comments:
X independent study
X seminars and workshops
multimedia and the internet
Most course materials will be available
X exercises
laboratory
in electronic format
online in entirety
work with the mentor
mixed e-learning
(other)
field work
Attendance, class discussion, one quiz, one essay, final written exam
0.5
Class attendance
Research
Practical training
0.5
1
Experimental work
Report (summary)
Discussion
1
0.5
Essay
Seminar presentation
Quiz
Tests
Oral exam
(Other—describe)
2
Written exam
Project
(Other—describe)
Sumary of argumentation 10%
Discussion in class 20%
Presentation 20%
Quiz-test 10%
Written exam 40%
Title
Number of
Availability via
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F
FORM 7 Evaluation of university study programmes of undergraduate, graduate and
integrated undergraduate and graduate studies, and vocational studies
DESCRIPTION
copies at the
library
library and via other media)
H. G. Alexander, “Introduction”, in The Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence, Manchester,
1956, pp. ix-lvi
R. Ariew, G.W. Leibniz and Samuel Clarke: Correspondence, Cambridge, 2000
I. Newton, Philosophical Writings, ed. A. Janiak, Cambridge, 2004 [parts]
G. W. Leibniz, Philosophical Essays, ed. R. Ariew & D. Garber, Cambridge, 1989 [parts]
2.12. Optional literature (at the time of
the submission of the study
programme proposal)
2.13. Methods of monitoring quality that
ensure acquisition of exit
competences
other media
pdf
pdf
pdf
pdf
pdf
pdf
E. Vailati, Leibniz and Clarke. A Study of their Correspondence, Oxford, 1997.
S. Clarke, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God and Other Writings, ed. E. Vailati, Cambridge, 1998.
G. W. Leibniz, Philosophical Papers and Letters, ed. Loemker, Dordrecht, 1989.
I. Kant, Critique of the Pure Reason, tr. Kemp Smith, London, 1929. [“Transcendental Aesthetic”]
F. Perkins, Leibniz: A Guide for the Perplexed, New York, 2007.
N. Jolly (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz, Cambridge, 1995.
J. Ferguson, The Philosophy of Dr. Samuel Clarke and Its Critics, New York, 1974.
L. A. Burtt, The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science, London, 1924, pp. 207-302.
R. T. W. Arthur, “Space and Relativity in Newton and Leibniz”, British Journal for the History of Science 45 (1994), 220-240.
C. D. Broad, “Leibniz's Last Controversy with the Newtonians”, in R. Woolhouse (ed.), Leibniz: Metaphysics and Philosophy of
Science, Oxford, 1981, 157-174.
R. Laymon, “Newton's Bucket Experiment”, Journal of the History of Philosophy 16 (1978), 399-413.
A. Koyré A. and I. B. Cohen, “The Case of the Missing Tanquam: Leibniz, Newton & Clarke”, Isis 52 (1961), 555-566.
S. Shapin, “Of Gods and Kings: Natural Philosophy and Politics in the Leibniz-Clarke Disputes”, Isis 72 (1981), 187-215.
Student poll organised by the University
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