Hume and Kant

(2.5,3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

PHIL 20060 Hume and Kant at UCD; In this course we will study selected writings from two of the most important philosophers of the Eighteenth century Enlightenment period: David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Topics will include scepticism and the nature of knowledge and belief; consciousness and the nature of the self; perception, identity, and causality. Hume's empiricist and sceptical naturalist outlook was famously opposed by the 'transcendental idealism' of Kant. Descendants of Humean and Kantian views are very influential in disputes today across the spectrum from metaphysics and epistemology to aesthetics, morality, and political philosophy, to this course will provide important background for many of our level three courses. (Students should be aware that Kant's writing in particular is somewhat technical and would be best approached by students who have already completed one or more philosophy modules.) When taught at NUS - "Two major philosophers are studied in this module: David Hume, in the first half, and Immanuel Kant, in the second. We will try to determine what each philosopher's fundamental approach to philosophy consists in, and how it gives rise to his views on the nature of causation, the external world, the self, and the limits of knowledge. As Kant's first Critique was a response to Hume's philosophical scepticism, we will pay close attention to his diagnoses of Hume's difficulties and his proposed solutions. "