PHIL 340 : Kant and Hegel

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of the development of German idealism from Kant to Hegel, focusing on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason (1781-1787) and Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (1807).

Course Overview

One of Immanuel Kant’s (1724-1804) most controversial philosophical assertions is that space and time are, as far as we can know, nothing more than features of the way our minds are constituted, rather than features of a mind-independent reality. We will initially examine this allegedly subjective nature of space and time, the necessary logical orderings that we project onto our experience, along with Kant’s theory of freedom. The aim will be to understand how Kant protected science from sceptical attacks, while paying for it by maintaining that metaphysical truth is unknowable.

We will also consider how GWF Hegel (1770-1831) replied that we can, by looking into ourselves, indeed know the essential nature of the universe. Our focus will be on the metaphysical nature of self-consciousness, Hegel’s various formulations of the essence of Christianity, his dialectical logic and his foundational belief that everything in the universe is rationally interconnected and moving in a positive direction.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points at Stage II in Philosophy Restriction: PHIL 220

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 6: Communication
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Read philosophical texts written by two of the most influential philosophers in the Western philosophical tradition (Capability 3)
  2. Evaluate philosophical arguments critically and in close logical detail (Capability 4)
  3. Compare and contrast competing interpretations of our knowledge and the world (Capability 6)
  4. Evaluate philosophical theorizing within its historical context (Capability 3)
  5. Apply the major insights of the two philosophers to non-philosophical contexts (Capability 6)
  6. Relate the philosophical ideas discussed in the course to one’s own area of academic interest contexts through an original essay (Capability 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Early Formative Test Individual Test
Final Exam 60% Individual Examination

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, a 1 hour weekly tutorial, and on the average, 4 hours per week of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours per week of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance and participation is expected at lectures and tutorials.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery:  one two-hour lecture per week and one one-hour tutorial per week.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

This course will focus on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason (1781/87) and Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (1807)

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The course evaluations were excellent overall.  Some wanted an extra hour of lectures beyond the 24, but that is not something that can be changed.  I intend to keep the course as is, since it's working well.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 30/10/2023 08:20 a.m.