16 June 2004 Lecture Summary (Guest Lecture)

I gave a guest lecture for Julie's half of the PHL 210Y Summer class.

Philosophers Examined: Malebranche, Norris, Astell; especially Malebranche.

Line of Thought: The key to understanding Malebranche is understanding his account of reason. I looked at several arguments involved in this account to conclude that Malebranche's unique twist is this: Reason is an independent rational agent, and, in particular, a divine person. Using this he is able to make a number of philosophically interesting moves: Reason is the Interior Teacher, the Intelligible World, Order, the Divine Word, etc. I then showed how Reason-as-Order forms the background for Malebranche's occasionalism, in which he rejects the notion of causal powers or efficacious natures as idolatrous and due to original sin. (We'll discuss some of the particular arguments he uses to supplement this conclusion next term.)

I then looked briefly at John Norris and Mary Astell - too briefly, but (I hope) enough to give interested students a place to start if they are interested in looking into the matter on their own.

Activity: Malebranche/Astell Wordfind.

UPDATE: In my lecture I briefly noted the theological origins of the notion 'person'; as it happens there is an article in the recent issue of the philosophical journal, ACPQ; if anyone in class wants a copy, let me know and I'll give you one. (22 June 2004)

Hhuun, Hhuun

The Houyhnhnms are the intelligent talking horses in Part IV of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels:

"The Word Houyhnhnm, in their Tongue, signifies a Horse, and in its Etymology, the Perfection of Nature."

The Houyhnhnms, unlike us, have difficulty understanding what it is to lie:

"And I remember in frequent Discourses with my Master concerning the Nature of Manhood, in other Parts of the World, having occasion to talk of Lying, and false Representation, it was with much Difficulty that he comprehended what I meant, although he had otherwise a most acute Judgment. For he argued thus: That the Use of Speech was to make us understand one another, and to receive Information of Facts; now if anyone said the Thing which was not, these Ends were Defeated; because I cannot properly be said to understand him; and I am so far from receiving Information, that he leaves me worse than in Ignorance, for I am led to believe a Thing Black when it is White, and Short when it is Long. And these were all the Notions he had concerning that Faculty of Lying, so perfectly well understood among human Creatures. "

Likewise, they have no conception of evil, and treat every member of their species with equal friendship and benevolence. Swift uses the Houyhnhnms as a literary device to satirize the shortcomings of English politics, thought, and moral life.

I'll probably be using this blog as an ongoing support for my teaching in early modern philosophy.

Hnuy illa nyha majah Yahoo!