Course Catalogue

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The course is concerned with theories of mind and knowledge in the Scottish Enlightenment. Key philosophers from the era will be considered, where these will include David Hume and Thomas Reid. The course will focus on core epistemological and metaphysical issues such as knowledge, scepticism, causation, the self, free will, and the idea of a science of human nature.

16x1hr lectures; 4x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Philosophy and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Successful completion of Junior Honours Philosophy, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (2000 words) - 65%

■ Short written pieces (2x500 words) - 35% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

■ There are no alternatives to the essay and written pieces, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

The course aims to:

■ Introduce students to key epistemological and metaphysical theories of the Scottish Enlightenment, including those of David Hume and Thomas Reid.

■ Introduce students to Hume's empiricism through a study of his contribution to key areas of human thought as expounded in the Treatise of Human Nature.

■ Introduce students to the competing theories of mind and knowledge found in the common sense philosophy of Thomas Reid.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ Expound and critically evaluate key theories of mind and knowledge from the Scottish Enlightenment;

■ Expound and critically assess elements of Hume's empiricism, such as his theory of ideas, his account of causation, his account of the nature of the self, his account of belief in the external world, and his claim that human action is causally determined;

■ Compare and contrast competing sceptical and naturalist readings of Hume's philosophy;

■ Expound and critically assess Reid's common sense philosophy, including his attack on the way of ideas and his response to scepticism;

■ Compare and contrast the respective methodologies of the philosophers discussed with particular reference to the idea of a science of human nature.