Theories of Emotions in Early Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Hume

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Target group Free for all students in the University of Helsinki. Basic knowledge in philosophy is presupposed.
Objective The course provides a preliminary understanding of what emotions were thought to consist of in the 17th and 18th centuries and how one is able to control them.
Contents We will discuss theories of emotions from Descartes to Hume.  The main emphasis is on the effect of emotions to the soul and how intelligence and will strive to control harmful passions. In addition, we will discuss the problem of free will within this context and how one can utilize positive emotions to reach a good life. We will also take a look at some basic passions, such as love, joy and hope, as discussed by the prominent philosophers. The themes of the course are related to philosophy of mind, moral philosophy and metaphysics of the Early Modern Philosophy.
The main philosophers to be discussed in the course are the prominent ones in the Early Modern Era such as Descartes, Malebranche, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hobbes, Locke and Hume, but I will also mention some of the less known as well. We will stick to the classic texts and context. Discussion is welcomed and in addition to the lectures, there are short portions of texts to be read at home and to be discussed in the web-page of the course. The teaching material can also be found from the page.

The places are:

02.11.-07.12.10
    tue 14.00-16.00  PR sl 8
05.11.-17.12.10
    fri 14.00-16.00  U40 sl 8
Completion Examination or coursejournal (3 cr). Possibility to take an examination on optional books: Susan James: Passion and Action (2 cr) or Michael Losonsky: Enlightenment and Action from Descartes to Kant (2 cr).
Examination Fri 17.12.2010 (U40 room 8)
Other information The course will be held in Finnish if there are no international participants.
Can also be used for Fte210d (403926) / Fte270b (403932) / Fte340.1 (403109) / Fte340.2 (403110) / Fte345 (403111). Please, inform the lecturer which one you choose.
3-5 cr.
Study materials and literature Optional material:
Susan James: Passion and Action
Stephen Gaukroger (ed.), The Soft Underbelly of Reason
Michael Losonsky: Enligtenment and Action from Descartes to Kant
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1 Comment

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  1. 2010-11-17

    Markku Roinila

    Few answerst to questions:

    - in the examination one can answer both in Finnish and in English (including the additional books)

    - the coursejournal can be written in Finnish

    - both the course examination and the examination of additional books takes place in 17. 12. in Forest house, hall 8 14-16