This colloquium provides cadets an opportunity for reading and analysis in depth of some of the seminal works in modern philosophy. Taught in seminar format, the course challenges first-class and second-class cadets to take responsibility for discussion and analysis and for drawing connections between ideas as they occur throughout history and across cultures. The early focus of the course will be on two schools of European thought, Rationalism and Empiricism, guided the early development of modern Western philosophy. Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz are recognized as the leading Rationalists. The chief Empiricists include Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume. The latter part of the course will examine the ideas of Immanuel Kant.
