Kant and Heidegger are two of the most important modern German philosophers.  Kant, writing at the end of the 18th century, has a major influence throughout Western philosophy.  Heidegger, writing in the 20th century, may be understood as providing an original response to Kant’s account of the nature and methods of philosophy.  The module will provide a detailed and critical introduction to the main areas of their work, by means of a careful reading of Kant’s Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics and of Heidegger’s Being and Time and related writings.

The module aims to give students a critical understanding of Kant's mature philosophy taken as a whole, and some understanding of the implications that work had for the development of philosophy.

• demonstrate a knowledge and critical understanding of core works by Kant and Heidegger, and the inter-relationships between these works.
• demonstrate an ability to read and to interpret critically and with insight Kant's Prolegomena and Heidegger’s Being and Time, and to recognise their importance to other modern Western philosophers.
• demonstrate an ability to analyse concepts, evaluate arguments and justify interpretations of and perspectives on Kant and Heidegger.

Teaching will be through a combination of lectures and seminars, the precise combination being dependent on the size of the class.  Students will be expected to have read selected passages from Kant prior to seminar classes, to have considered the questions set on that reading, and be able to discuss them.

This module will be taught using printed books and journal articles available online (e.g. via Learning Central) and from the  library.

Timetabled sessions will be supplemented with written material in the form of a detailed summary of the session content, questions and/or instructions for discussion and a list of further reading. This supplementary material will be provided in the form of a printed handout and on Learning Central. Any supplementary material in a permanent form (e.g. a paper handout or downloadable document) will be made available either at the beginning of the session or 24 hours before the session.

Images, diagrams, sound, video or other multimedia resources will not be used in this module.

Intellectual Skills:

• The ability to interpret texts
• The ability to appraise and assess arguments
• The ability to reach conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of arguments and to justify these conclusions with sound reasoning and detailed interpretations of source material
• The ability to form a consistent position about questions raised in the module

Discipline Specific Skills:

• The ability to analyse and construct philosophical arguments
• The ability to interpret philosophical texts
• The ability to deploy appropriate philosophical vocabulary
• The ability to use (and derive value from) Kant and Heidegger's arguments, as well as commentaries on and responses to Kant and Heidegger's work.

Transferable Skills:

• The ability to analyse arguments
• The ability to read texts in a creative and disciplined manner
• The ability to communicate clearly and accurately in written work
• The ability to present work that has a logical structure
• The ability to form their own views and argue independent positions

Students will develop employability skills which include the ability to synthesise information, operating in group-based discussion involving negotiating ideas and producing clear, informed arguments in a professional manner.

The formative assessment for this module will take the form of one essay of 1,000 words in each semester, on a specified topic. This essay should be submitted via Learning Central, by the dates specified on the semester question lists. Essays submitted after these dates, without good cause, may not be marked in time for the revision period. Essays will be returned via email.

The summative assessment for this module will take the form of one portfolio essay in combination with one 90 minute written examination. The two components of the assessment will carry equal weighting.

The portfolio essay will consist of one essay of a maximum of 2,000 words. This essay will be selected from the same list of titles as for the formative essays. The essay must be written especially for the portfolio, and must not be discussed with the module leader. It may, however, be based upon the formative essay, although the greater maximum length of essay indicates that a more thorough and detailed critical discussion of the chosen title is expected.

In the written examination the student will answer one question from a list of ten to twelve questions.  The examination question answered must be on a different philosopher than question attempted in the portfolio essay.  The examination will be an open book examination, with students allowed to bring copies of Martin Heidegger’s Basic Writings or I. Kant’s Prolegomena to the examination.

This module is assessed according to the Marking Criteria set out in the Philosophy Course Guide. There are otherwise no academic or competence standards which limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments for students with disabilities.

Kant and Heidegger are two of the most important modern German philosophers.  Kant, writing at the end of the 18th century, has a major influence throughout Western philosophy.  Heidegger, writing in the 20th century, may be understood as providing an original response to Kant’s account of the nature and methods of philosophy.  The module will provide a detailed and critical introduction to the main areas of their work, by means of a careful reading of Kant’s Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics and of Heidegger’s Being and Time and related writings.

I. Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics which will be able to come forth as a Science(any edition)

M. Heidegger, Basic Writings, Revised and Expanded Edition, ed. David Farrell Krell, London: Routledge, 1993.

S. Gardner, Routledge Philosophy Guide Book to Kant, London:  Routledge 1999.

S. Körner, Kant, Harmondsworth:  Penguin, 1955

Ruth Chadwick and Clive Cazeux (eds.), Immanuel Kant:  Critical Assessments, London:  Routledge, 1992

H. Caygill, A Kant Dictionary, Oxford:  Blackwell, 1995

M. Inwood, A Heidegger Dictionary, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1999.