Philosophy 1 - RETA7031 (Early Modern Philosophy)

• Title: FPV1-Philosophy 1
• Guaranteed by: Katedra filosofie a religionistiky (27-FR)
• Faculty: Protestant Theological Faculty
• Actual: from 2025 to 2025
• Semester: summer
• Points: 2
• E-Credits: 2
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, C [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unknown (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. et Mgr. Olga Navrátilová, Ph.D.

Annotation

The aim of the lecture is to introduce students to the main issues of early modern philosophy (from the 17th to the early 19th century), which are in many ways key to our contemporary understanding of nature, humanity, and its place in the world.
The lecture will focus on following topics:
1) epistemology (rationalism, empiricism, Kant),
2) ethics (Locke, Hume, Kant)
3) religion (natural religion and Revelation, the concept of God)
4) the question of evil (Leibniz, Kant)
5) political philosophy (social contract theory and its critique)
6) history as the process of emancipation (Kant, Herder, Hegel)
7) language (Bacon, Locke, Herder)

Last update: Navrátilová Olga, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (03.02.2026)

Course completion requirements

Regular and active participation in classes is expected (a maximum of three excused absences are permitted). Credit will be earned after completing a colloquium in which the student demonstrates at least a basic knowledge of the topics covered during the lecture.

Last update: Navrátilová Olga, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (03.02.2026)

Literature

SCRUTON, R. A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein. London : Routledge 2004.
COPLESTON, F. History of Philosophy (Vol 6). London : Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003.
COPLESTON, F. History of Philosophy (Vol 7). London : Continuum International Publishing Group, 1994.

Last update: Navrátilová Olga, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2026)