PH948-20 Kant's Critique of Pure Reason
Introductory description
Immanuel Kant is one of the most important and influential modern philosophers; indeed he is one of the greatest thinkers of all time. He made ground-breaking contributions to epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics and philosophy of religion, and his thought paved the way, directly or indirectly, for many of the most significant philosophical movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, including German Idealism and Romanticism, phenomenology and neo-Kantianism. In this module we will study Kant’s first great work, the Critique of Pure Reason (1781, 2nd ed. 1787), in which he undertook his famous “Copernican Revolution” by arguing that objects of possible experience conform to the categories of understanding (rather than the other way round).
Module aims
We will study, among other things, the following topics: Kant’s argument in the Transcendental Aesthetic that experience of objects presupposes a priori forms of intuition; his derivation of the categories of thought from the functions of judgement (the so-called “Metaphysical Deduction”); the Transcendental Deduction, in which Kant argues that categories are required for objects of experience; Kant’s notorious conception of the “thing in itself”, and his famous and influential account of the “antinomies” of reason. Where appropriate, we will also consider the similarities and differences between Kant’s thought and that of other philosophers, such as Leibniz, Hume, Hegel and Nietzsche. No prior knowledge of Kant is required to take this module, and all students are welcome, whatever philosophical tradition they come from.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
weeks 1 - 2: Introduction to Kant's critical project
week 3: Kant's Transcendental Aesthetic
week 4: The derivation of the categories of thought
weeks 5 - 6: The Transcendental Deduction of the categories
weeks 7 - 8: the Schemata and Analogies of Experience
weeks 9 - 10: The Ideas of Reason and the Antinomies
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Students will have a systematic and advanced understanding of key issues in Kant's theoretical philosophy
- Students will be able to read and interpret central sections of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason; present their own point of view on them in clear prose.
- Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate Kant's doctrines; assess the textual accuracy and philosophical strength of different interpretations of Kant's doctrines.
- Students will be able to pursue and organize philosophical research using a range of sources (print and electronic media), documenting research carefully, and showing the ability to engage independently in philosophical debate.
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Subject specific skills
An ability to understand and assess the arguments in Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. An ability to relate Kant's arguments to those of other thinkers, such as Spinoza and Hegel, and to assess their relative merits.
Transferable skills
An ability to understand and assess complex arguments. An ability to read texts carefully and with intelligence. An ability to enter sympathetically into a different way of thinking and to assess its merits from an internal vantage point. An ability to explain complex ideas to others.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 2 hours (10%) |
| Private study | 180 hours (90%) |
| Total | 200 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| 5000 word essay | 100% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback on essays will be provided on the coversheet for the essay, addressing standard areas
of evaluation and individual content.
Courses
This module is Core option list A for:
-
TPHA-V7P2 Postgraduate Taught Continental Philosophy
- Year 1 of V7P2 Continental Philosophy
- Year 2 of V7P2 Continental Philosophy
This module is Option list A for:
-
TPHA-V7PM Postgraduate Taught Philosophy
- Year 1 of V7PM Philosophy
- Year 2 of V7PM Philosophy
This module is Option list C for:
-
TPHA-V7PM Postgraduate Taught Philosophy
- Year 1 of V7PM Philosophy
- Year 2 of V7PM Philosophy