Foundations of Metaphysics II - Kant's Critical Project: A Slow Reading of The Critique of Pure Reason Part 2 - UChicago

Course Description

This 3 quarter course, begun in fall, undertakes a slow and careful reading of Kant’s magnum opus, The Critique of Pure Reason, which can be seen as his attempt to “save” certain core questions and lines of metaphysical thinking, such as causality, necessity, the unity and intelligibility of the world, and ethics, from the rise of radical empiricism. Kant himself describes his work as a reorientation of our philosophical thinking on par with the Copernican revolution in natural science, which showed that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around. We will read the text slowly over 30 weeks (3 quarters), occasionally supplementing this with brief excerpts from relevant philosophical commentaries as needed or wanted. The spring will supplement Kant’s final discussion of the purpose of reason with short texts by Kant on morality, religion, and politics.

The Winter quarter will pick up with Division II: The Transcendental Dialectic, leading us through to Kant’s brilliant resolutions of long-standing problems such as whether or not the universe can have a beginning in time or limits in space, whether or not matter and space must be infinitely divisible, whether we are free or our actions are causally determined, and whether or not the world depends on a God, in the Antinomies, as well as looking at the concepts of the Ideal and “regulative ideals.”

Prerequisites:

Foundations of Metaphysics II - Kant's Critical Project: A Slow Reading of The Critique of Pure Reason Part 1

Required Texts

Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, tr. Werner Pluhar (Hackett unified edition), ISBN 978-0872202573

Frequently Asked Questions

Review common questions about our courses. You can also contact us for more information.

Do we take assessments in these courses?

Graham School non-credit courses are not graded and therefore have no tests. They focus on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.

How can I best prepare for class?

Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion. While not required, we offer an optional course to prepare students to engage with challenging works: How to Read Classic Texts. While this is presented as an introductory course for the Basic Program, students in other programs or open enrollment courses are also welcome to participate and grow their skills.

Do I have to complete an application?

Applications are not required for our open enrollment courses.

Who is best suited to take a course at the Graham School?

Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in these topics and engaging in deep discovery with others is welcome to take part in this course.

UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions? 

Yes. Our non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their academic background.

What happens if I have to miss a class?

Our online classes are recorded and shared with the registered students through the Canvas site for the course. For in-person courses, you can ask a fellow student to take notes for you if you have to miss a session.

What is your withdrawal/cancellation policy?

You can find our withdrawal and cancellation policy with other registration issues here. Most drop or transfer requests can be made through your student account.

Will this course be offered online or in person?

The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course section specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.

What happens if I miss a class?

While our courses are driven by live discussions, we do record the online sessions. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording to catch up. Please note that students may only access recordings for the sections in which they are registered. In-person classes are not recorded.

I can no longer participate in a course I registered for. Can I get a refund?

If you need to drop a course, please email us at graham@learningplatform.support to process your request. When reaching out, please include your full name, the course name and the section. If you made a donation during your course purchase, please confirm if you would like the donation refunded as well.

Courses dropped before the first day of class are eligible for a full refund. Courses dropped after the first class are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. No refund will be issued for courses dropped after the first week of classes.

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I have a question about the course registration process, who should I reach out to?

If you have a question about how to register for a course, watch the helpful videos on our registration tips page. You can also email our support team at graham@learningplatform.support. You will receive a response within 24 hours.

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Graham School programs have received national and international attention, with coverage in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, The Atlantic, and other leading publications.