Module PHIL40130: Philosophy, Science and Medicine in the Seventeenth Century

Department: Philosophy

PHIL40130: Philosophy, Science and Medicine in the Seventeenth Century

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• HIST50130 and HIST40930

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To encourage students to study and engage with, at an advanced level, issues in 17th century philosophy, medicine and science, in the light of the wider aims of the MA in 17th Century Studies programme.
• To provide students with the opportunity to engage in research-led and directed reading; discussions and dialogue with academics and other postgraduate students on their chosen interests; and to develop student skills in writing and critical analysis, appropriate to Level 4, through the production of an extended essay.

Content

• 17th century philosophy, medicine and science covers a wide and diverse area. Specific topics will be chosen each year by the Module Leader, in consultation with other participating academics and the Director of the MA in 17th Century Studies, and tailored to the needs and interests of current students.
• The topics may include: the history and pervasiveness of scepticism; the influence of Cartesian philosophy; substance; English philosophy in the age of Locke, Galileo and the New Mechanical Philosophy; the Leibniz-Clarke correspondence; Science, Religion and Wealth; the impact of animal experimentation; iatrochemistry, iatromechamics and Neo-Hippocratism; the medical market-place.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with selected topics in philosophy, medicine and science in the 17th century and principal works of modern scholarship concerning these.
• An understanding of the inter-disciplinary approaches relevant to these topics.

• An ability to read and engage with 17th century writing and modern scholarship on 17th century philosophy, medicine and science

• An ability to write an extended essay which exhibits advanced understanding and critical appraisal of some these module topics.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students will attend regular tutorials, often one-to-one, with academics in the Philosophy Department with specialist interests in philosophy, or medicine or science in the 17th century. These will be organised under the direction of the Module Leader.
• These tutorials will provide a framework for teaching and discussions on select topics, for planning of research, and for supervising of assessed work.
• Students will b directed to literature, on both the selected topics and their chosen subjects for written work, at the beginning of and during the module.
• Student swill be expected to give s short seminar presentation to an MA seminar and to contribute to such seminars led by others.
• In addition, students will be encouraged to attend Departmental and Postgraduate Seminars in Philosophy, particularly where these are directly relevant to 17th century studies.
• All learning outcomes will be formally tested through assessment of a 5,00 word essay on a chosen topic.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One presentation to a seminar; feedback and comments upon work in press (e.g. drafts of written work); production of a tailored bibliography before tutorial 4.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University