HFIA03701U Modul 1, Kants Kritik der reinen Vernuft

Volume 2014/2015
Education
Master in Philosophy
Content

Immanuel Kant’s (1724-1804) major work, the Critique of Pure reason (orig. Critik der reinen Vernunft, 1781, 1787), is undoubtedly one of the most important works in modern philosophy, if not in the entire history of philosophy. In order to answer the question What are the conditions for the possibility of knowledge? Kant attempted to introduce an intellectual revolution in the procedure of metaphysics comparable to the Copernican revolution in natural philosophy. Criticizing both the empiricists and rationalists of his own time, Kant developed a new and original approach towards metaphysics, which became known as transcendental philosophy. His work set the terms for nineteenth century philosophy and still continues to be a point of reference in various contemporary philosophical debates.

By carefully studying the entire text we will discuss among others the following notions: analytic and synthetic judgments, the thing in itself, time and space as forms of intuition, the metaphysical deduction, the paralogisms of pure reason and the regulative principles of reason.

In preparation for the first class, please read the introduction and the prefaces to the first and to the second edition.

Working with the German text is strongly encouraged. Professional assistance in acquiring German language skills will be granted.

Learning Outcome
The Master’s Programme in Philosophy 2014:
Module 1, Classical Philosophical Text: HFIK03701E


The Master’s Programme in Philosophy 2008:
Module 2, Freely chosen topic A: HFIK03521E
Module 4, Freely chosen topic B: HFIK03541E
Module 5, Freely chosen topic C: HFIK03551E
Module 6, Freely chosen topic D: HFIK03561E
Module 7, Freely chosen topic E: HFIK03571E

Selected editions:

The two original editions:

Kant, Immanuel, Critik der reinen Vernunft, Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781.

Kant, Immanuel, Critik der reinen Vernunft, Zweyte hin und wieder verbesserte Auflage, Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1787.

German editions that contain the material from both editions:

Kant, Immanuel, Kritik der reinen Vernunft, ed. Jens Timmermann, Hamburg: Meiner, 1998.

Kant, Immanuel, Kritik der reinen Vernunft, ed. Wilhelm Weischedel, Frankfurt: Suhrkamp, 2012.

The standard German edition of Kant's works:

Kant, Immanuel, Gesammelte Schriften, herausgegeben von der Königlich Preußischen (subsequently Deutschen, then Berlin-Brandenburgischen) Akademie der Wissenschaften, 29 vols, Berlin: Georg Reimer (subsequently Walter de Gruyter & Co.), 1900–.

English translation:

Kant, Immanuel, Critique of Pure Reason, translated and edited by Paul Guyer and Allen W. Wood, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

In case you use any other English translation, please make sure that it contains all the material from both editions of the Critique.

Further reading:

Guyer, Paul, (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2010.

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 42
  • Course Preparation
  • 367,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
For details, see the curriculum.
Criteria for exam assesment