Philosophy 484 - Seminar: Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason

Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason (1781) is arguably the most challenging work of modern philosophy, but it is worth the challenge. In the Critique, Kant addresses themes that cover the full range of human experience: the capacity of the mind to know the world; the nature of space and time; whether free will is possible; the relation between appearance and reality; whether science is compatible with religion; and much more. Holding these topics
together is Kant’s famous doctrine of "transcendental idealism,” which asserts that certain key features of the world actually depend on the existence and nature of our minds. This class will explore the meaning and significance of Kant’s bold claims and assess his arguments for them through a sustained reading of the Critique.

Prerequisite: two prior courses in philosophy. Limited to 20 students. Fall semester. Professor Hasan. (S, H, T).

How to handle overenrollment: Preference given to majors.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on written work, readings, oral presentations, group work, and class participation.