PHIL 309 Kant (Not offered 2006-2007; to be offered 2007-2008)
This course will provide an intensive study of the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.
Kant's transcendental idealism is profoundly important: it constitutes a
challenge to rationalist metaphysics, a response to Hume's empiricist
skepticism, and systematically integrates epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics in
a way that has shaped modern Western thought. It is also profoundly difficult:
more than 200 years after its development, there is still vehement disagreement
not only over whether or not Kant was right, but over what Kant actually said. In
this course our goal will be to understand Kant's philosophy as a systematic
whole, in terms of the tight-knit relationships that bind all his ideas into one
comprehensive vision. We will attempt to understand what Kant said and why,
how it is important, and the extent to which it is right. We will read significant
portions of all three of Kant's most important works (the Critique of Pure
Reason, Critique of Practical Reason, and Critique of Judgment), and may
occasionally make use of secondary literature.
Requirements: several short assignments; final paper of 12-15 pages.
Prerequisites: Philosophy 102. Expected enrollment: 5-15.