History of Early Modern Philosophy Ii
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a thorough knowledge of the history of early modern philosophical thought. The course will encourage the students' disposition to investigate new topics, thus increasing their knowledge and competence. Students will also develop a comprehension of the many interdisciplinary perspectives that characterise early modern thought.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
- to present in detail the development of the history of modern Western philosophy, with particular reference to the topics addressed in the course;
- understand the relationships connecting the history of philosophy to the history of science, politics, society, culture, theology, and religion;
- understand the concepts and lines of argument used by the authors analysed;
- know the basic methodological tools of the historical-philosophical investigation.
Moreover, students will be able to:
- apply the knowledge acquired in framing early modern authors and texts historically;
- apply the understanding of the historical relationships between philosophy and other doctrines to the analysis and discussion of texts and problems;
- apply the understanding of concepts and argumentative forms to the analysis of complex texts and problems.
- to present in detail the development of the history of modern Western philosophy, with particular reference to the topics addressed in the course;
- understand the relationships connecting the history of philosophy to the history of science, politics, society, culture, theology, and religion;
- understand the concepts and lines of argument used by the authors analysed;
- know the basic methodological tools of the historical-philosophical investigation.
Moreover, students will be able to:
- apply the knowledge acquired in framing early modern authors and texts historically;
- apply the understanding of the historical relationships between philosophy and other doctrines to the analysis and discussion of texts and problems;
- apply the understanding of concepts and argumentative forms to the analysis of complex texts and problems.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Theodicy in Early Modern Philosophy: The Problem of Evil from Descartes to Kant.
This course examines the problem of evil and the development of theodicy in early modern philosophy, from Descartes to Kant. It traces how major seventeenth- and eighteenth-century thinkers addressed the apparent conflict between the existence of evil and the goodness, power, and wisdom of God. The course situates these debates within broader transformations in metaphysics, theology, and the emerging sciences, showing how the problem of evil became a central philosophical issue in the modern period.
Through close reading of primary texts, students will explore different conceptions of evil, divine providence, freedom, and moral responsibility. The course concludes with Kant's critique of philosophical theodicy, which marks a turning point in modern discussions of evil.
This course examines the problem of evil and the development of theodicy in early modern philosophy, from Descartes to Kant. It traces how major seventeenth- and eighteenth-century thinkers addressed the apparent conflict between the existence of evil and the goodness, power, and wisdom of God. The course situates these debates within broader transformations in metaphysics, theology, and the emerging sciences, showing how the problem of evil became a central philosophical issue in the modern period.
Through close reading of primary texts, students will explore different conceptions of evil, divine providence, freedom, and moral responsibility. The course concludes with Kant's critique of philosophical theodicy, which marks a turning point in modern discussions of evil.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures with the possibility of discussion.
Teaching Resources
- R. Descartes, Metaphysical Meditations, IV e VI.
- B. Spinoza, Ethics, Part One, Appendix.
- N. Malebranche, Treatise on Nature and Grace (First Discourse).
- P. Bayle, Historical and Critical Dictionary (entries "Manicheans" and "Paulicians").
- G. W. Leibniz, Theodicy (selections).
- Voltaire, Poem on the Lisbon Disaster & Rousseau, Letter to Voltaire.
- I. Kant, On the Failure of All Attempted Philosophical Theodicies.
- S. Nadler, The Best of All Possible Worlds: A Story of Philosophers, God, and Evil in the Age of Reason, Princeton 2008.
One book from this list non attending students:
- S. Brogi, I filosofi e il male. Storia della teodicea da Platone ad Auschwitz, Milano, Franco Angeli 2009.
- S. Landucci, La teodicea nell'età cartesiana, Napoli, Bibliopolis 1986.
- G. Mormino, Determinismo e utilitarismo nella teodicea di Leibniz, Franco Angeli 2005.
- G. Paganini, Analisi della fede e critica della ragione nella filosofia di Pierre Bayle, Milano, Franco Angeli 1980.
- M. Priarolo, Malebranche, Roma, Carocci 2019.
- B. Spinoza, Ethics, Part One, Appendix.
- N. Malebranche, Treatise on Nature and Grace (First Discourse).
- P. Bayle, Historical and Critical Dictionary (entries "Manicheans" and "Paulicians").
- G. W. Leibniz, Theodicy (selections).
- Voltaire, Poem on the Lisbon Disaster & Rousseau, Letter to Voltaire.
- I. Kant, On the Failure of All Attempted Philosophical Theodicies.
- S. Nadler, The Best of All Possible Worlds: A Story of Philosophers, God, and Evil in the Age of Reason, Princeton 2008.
One book from this list non attending students:
- S. Brogi, I filosofi e il male. Storia della teodicea da Platone ad Auschwitz, Milano, Franco Angeli 2009.
- S. Landucci, La teodicea nell'età cartesiana, Napoli, Bibliopolis 1986.
- G. Mormino, Determinismo e utilitarismo nella teodicea di Leibniz, Franco Angeli 2005.
- G. Paganini, Analisi della fede e critica della ragione nella filosofia di Pierre Bayle, Milano, Franco Angeli 1980.
- M. Priarolo, Malebranche, Roma, Carocci 2019.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral examination will focus on understanding the texts in the syllabus and the problems and concepts developed in the course. Students will be assessed for their ability to discursively organise knowledge and for their ability to critically reason about the study carried out; the lecturer will take into account the quality of the exposition, the correct use of specialised vocabulary, and the linearity of the exposition. The final grade will be expressed in thirtieths.
M-FIL/06 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Ottaviani Osvaldo
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