DP48 34 Philosophy B: Aspects of the History and Development of Western Philosophy

This Unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of aspects of the historical development of the western philosophical discourse. The emphasis is upon creating an overarching view of the history of ongoing philosophical debate by examining key philosophers and key issues. The Unit begins by examining the roots of western philosophy in classical Greece, follows the development of philosophy through Christian medieval theology and ends with its emergence in enlightenment Europe. On Completion of the Unit you should be able to: 1. Explain Plato’s ‘Theory of Forms’ and Aristotle’s alternative account of form. 2. Explain aspects of epistemological and metaphysical debates in Christian Medieval Philosophy. 3. Evaluate the epistemology of René Descartes 4. Evaluate the epistemology of David Hume