The aim of this course is to introduce students to the work of Immanuel Kant via a study of a number of his short writings that engage political and ethical questions. Emphasis will be given to the study of complete texts in order to understand Kant’s mode of argumentation. The three texts on which the course will concentrate are: Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose; An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment? and Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch.
Week 1. The first week will include an introduction to the dominant themes in Kant’s writings on political questions, followed by a close analysis of An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?
Week 2. The second week will be devoted to a study of his text The Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose. In addition to coming to an understanding of Kant’s argumentation the discussion will concentrate on what Kant means by the ‘cosmopolitan’.
Week 3. The third week will begin a study of Kant’s paper Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch. Again the project will be to understand Kant’s argumentation and what he means by ‘peace’.
Week 4. This week will continue the study of Kant’s Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch. In addition to concentrating on how Kant understands peace, his thinking in this area will be juxtaposed with work by the philosopher Emmanuel Levinas on peace.
Week 5. Will allow conclusions to be drawn from the three texts by Kant which will have been studied and then to look at short commentaries on this aspect of Kant’s work by Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida.