In this seminar we will explore the thought of early modern
rationalists, including Descartes, Spinoza, Lady Conway, and Leibniz. The rationalists
pursued certain necessary truths derived from self-evident principles
and innate ideas. Although sometimes distrustful of empirical
investigations, they still contributed to scientific advancement,
especially in physics and mathematics. Some topics we will discuss
include Descartes' substance dualism, and the connected problem of
mind-body interaction, the rationalists' views on free will, Spinoza's
necessitarianism, and Leibniz's famous pronouncement that we live in the
best possible world.
- Trainer/in: Matej Kohar