The course begins with a brief introduction to the life and thought of Immanuel Kant. We then spend a couple weeks exploring the main claims of two of Kant's most impactful predecessors, the rationalist and polymath Gottfried Leibniz, and the empiricist and skeptic David Hume. The rest of the course divides into three parts: i) an overview of key moments of Kant's transcendental idealism and critique of metaphysics, especially as presented in the Critique of Pure Reason; ii) a close reading of the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, with an emphasis on the various formulations of the Categorical Imperative and the role of autonomy in Kant's ethics; and iii) a brief foray into Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment, with sessions devoted to Kant's theory of beauty, the sublime, taste, and natural teleology.

In this course you will:

--- Read and analyze the works of Immanuel Kant in translation.

--- Reconstruct a holistic philosophical system from various works, all the while recognizing where there is room, and necessity, for interpretation.

--- Learn to structure your reading and research activities in such a way to focus on the claims and arguments that are important for your particular interests, which might not always be the author's main concern.

--- Gain an in-depth understanding of the categorical imperative and the way in which the value of autonomy structures Kant's ethics.

--- Develop the public speaking skills required to participate in and actively contribute to high-level philosophy seminars.

--- Elaborate the writing skills required for the development and defense of our own theses in an extended argument.

I expect you to arrive at class on time, prepared for the day's material. I highly recommend that you attend all classes given that the material is comprehensive by nature. Attendance will be considered in your participation grade, and more than two unexcused absences during the semester will result in a lower score. You'll find the Excused Absences Request Form on the Registrar's website: https://www.johncabot.edu/registrar/. You can read more about the University's attendance policy, which lists common reasons for an Excused absence, in the Student Handbook: https://www.johncabot.edu/student-life/campus-services/jcu-undergraduate-handbook-2025-26.pdf, starting p. 9. You are responsible for all material covered and discussed in class, whether or not you are actually present in class.

Note that you cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean's Office. The Dean's Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students seeking an excuse from an examination must submit the Excused Absences Request Form as soon as possible.

Week 1: Introduction to the Course and Kant's Life and Work

---readings: Kant, "What is Enlightenment?"

Week 2: Rationalism and Idealism

---readings: selections from Leibniz, Discourse on Metaphysics

Week 3: Empiricism and Skepticism

---readings: selections from Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

Week 4: Kant's Copernican revolution

---readings: prefaces and introduction to the Critique of Pure Reason

Week 5: Space, time, and transcendental idealism

---readings: The Critique of Pure Reason, Transcendental Aesthetic

Week 6: Transcendental arguments and the categories of the understanding

---readings: The Critique of Pure Reason, Transcendental Logic

Week 7: Kant on mathematics and science

---readings: The Critique of Pure Reason, chapter II of the Analytic of Principles, "System of all principles of pure understanding" and selection from the Doctrine of Method.

Week 8: Kant's critique of metaphysics

---readings: selections from the Critique of Pure Reason, Transcendental Dialectic, including the "Ideal of Pure Reason"

Week 9: Introduction to Kant's ethics

---readings: Groundwork, Introduction and Section I

Week 10: The Categorical Imperative

---readings: Groundwork, Section II

Week 11: Autonomy and Transcendental Freedom

---readings: Groundwork, Section III, selection from the Critique of Practical Reason ("Fact of Reason"), and selection from the Critique of Pure Reason (Third Antinomy)

Week 12: Kant's theory of beauty and taste

---selections from the Critique of the Power of Judgment

Week 13: Kant on teleology and purpose

---selections from the Critique of the Power of Judgment

Week 14: Review, Recap, and Exam Prep

---no new readings

Week 15: Final Exam

Very highly recommended further reading:

Jessica Williams, "How Conceptually Guided are Kantian Intuitions?"

Henry Allison, Kant's Transcendental Idealism: An Interpretation and Defense

Michael Friedman, Kant and the Exact Sciences

R. Lanier Anderson, The Poverty of Conceptual Truth: Kant's Analytic/Synthetic Distinction and the Limits of Metaphysics, and "On the Two-Step Interpretation of Kant's Dialectical Strategy in Theoretical Philosophy"

David Velleman, "A Brief Introduction to Kantian Ethics"

Christine Korsgaard, "Kant's Formula of Universal Law" and "Kant's Formula of Humanity"

Rachel Cristy, "Does Wine Have a Place in Kant's Theory of Taste?"