https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/W_BA_TXT2The goal of this course is to acquire insight into a classical text of the history of philosophy: Kant’s “Kritik der reinen Vernunft”. This text is treated on a textual level but also positioned in the perspective of a broader framework of the history of philosophy, in particular that of metaphysics and empiricism. After this course, 1. you can explain basic concepts of Kant’s KrV in your own words; 2. you have obtained insight into the basic question of the KrV as well as in its argumentation and structure; 3. you can position Kant’s transcendental philosophy in the history of philosophy; 4. you can read and analyze texts of Kant by yourself; 5. you have developed more general academical skills like close reading of texts, discussing them critically, and writing about them.In his "Kritik der reinen Vernunft" (1781/1787), the first of his three critical works, Kant developed his famous as well as infamous philosophical ‘Copernican turn’ with respect to our knowledge claims. The significance of the KrV for the history of philosophy can hardly be overestimated. Kant's conception of ‘transcendental philosophy’ aims to supply philosophy with a completely new foundation, namely a ‘critical’ foundation. According to Kant, both metaphysics and empiricism are uncritical regarding their own presupposition. Hence, Kant’s KrV not only establishes a new philosophical paradigm but at the same time positions this paradigm within the history of philosophy. For many philosophers, Kant’s transcendental philosophy showed to be a source, a standard, and of course an instance that is in need of criticism itself. The history of philosophy cannot be understood properly without knowledge of Kant’s philosophy. It seems that a philosophy that falls back behind to Kant’s position does not have a long future. In the course, we study in great detail the Einleitung of the KrV (= 2e editie, B 1-30), parts from the Transzendentale Ästhetik and the Transzendentale Logik (Analytik der Begriffe). We start with the Einleitung, following the order of the sections, and hence start with the first section. It is recommended to have read the whole Einleitung before the first meeting. At least, students are supposed to have prepared §§ 1-3 (B 1-10) for the first meeting. For the further meetings too, students have to prepare themselves by studying the relevant text.Seminar, supplemented by lectures as a part of the seminar. Due to the fact that the goal of this course can only be achieved by means of an active interaction, attendance is mandatory: who misses more than 1 meeting cannot do an examination.1) Individual assignments. They constitute 1,5 pt of your grade if you do five or six assignments, 1 pt if you do four assignments. In case you do less than four assignments you do not obtain any points. (learning objectives 1-5) 2) Open book examination with essay questions (max. 8,5 pt of your grade). (learning objectives 1-5) 3) The re-examination only consists of an open book test (grades for the assignments are not taken into account). (learning objectives 1-5)Primary literature: Kant, Immanuel: Kritik der reinen Vernunft. I advise to use the edition of J. Timmermann (Meiner Verlag, Hamburg) or the edition of W. Weischedel (Suhrkamp Verlag, Berlin). Of course, any Dutch or English translation may be used for the purpose of study, yet, during the meetings we aim work with the German original. I advise to use a translation in your mother language. Secondary literature: Allison, Henry E. (2004): Kant's transcendental idealism. Rev. and enl., New Haven. Cassirer, Ernst (1922): Das Erkenntnisproblem in der Philosophie und Wissenschaft der neueren Zeit. Teil 2 (Darmstadt 1994), 8. Buch: Die kritische Philosophie. Cassirer, Ernst (1921), Kant’s Life and Thought (1921), New Haven, London 1981), ch. 2-3. Flach, Werner (2002): Die Idee der Transzendentalphilosophie. Immanuel Kant, Würzburg. Höffe, Otfried (2003): Kants Kritik der reinen Vernunft. Die Grundlegung der modernen Philosophie. München. Höffe, Otfried (2010): Kant's Critique of pure reason. The foundation of modern philosophy. Dordrecht, New York. Guyer, Paul [ed.] (1992): The Cambridge Companion to Kant. Cambridge University Press. Eisler, Rudolf (1930): Kant-Lexikon, Hildesheim 1994.BA2-students PhilosophyW_BA_MOEN Modern Philosophy