PHILOSOPHY 214 KANT AND HIS CRITICS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 2:00 3:20PM PROF. KATE MORAN OFFICE HOURS FRIDAYS, 10AM 12PM

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1 PHILOSOPHY 214 KANT AND HIS CRITICS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 2:00 3:20PM PROF. KATE MORAN OFFICE HOURS FRIDAYS, 10AM 12PM COURSE OVERVIEW This is a graduate level course that examines the fundamentals of Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy (i.e. his ethics), as well as historical and contemporary criticisms of Kant's ethics. Topics are organized thematically and, to a lesser extent, historically. LEARNING GOALS In this course, students will (at a minimum) acquire or expand upon their knowledge of Kant's ethics; acquire or expand upon their knowledge of historical and contemporary criticisms of Kant's ethical theory; develop their skills in textual analysis and philosophical discussion; and produce a research-length essay on a topic inspired by the class discussion. EXPECTATIONS Lecture and Discussion In this graduate level course, students are expected to come to class having done the reading carefully and, at a minimum, ready to ask well-formulated questions about the text in class. Students should always have the required readings for that class session with them in class. It is typical for students in philosophy seminars to annotate their readings before class and during class discussion. Readings Please note that some readings on the schedule are longer than others. You may want to plan in advance so that you have time to complete the readings on time. You may also want to read ahead if you think that you might like to write a term paper on a topic discussed later in the course. Success in this 4 credit hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, papers, discussion sections, preparation for exams, etc.). EVALUATION Class Participation (25%) Minimally, this includes coming to class prepared (see above), and a presentation of your term paper during the last week of class. It also includes meeting with me in late March/early April to discuss your term paper plan. Term Paper: (75%) A paper of roughly 5,000 words, due Monday April 30. This is a firm deadline for anyone graduating in May. Others must contact me by April 23 to request an extension

2 TEXTS Required readings marked with an (L) on the course schedule below will be available on the course's LATTE page. You should buy (new or used), rent, or borrow the following texts. These texts are not available at the bookstore; I leave it to you to find the best deals. A note on translation: when a text has been translated, please use the translation listed on the syllabus. It will help our class discussions if we all have the same translation to refer to. (1) Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, translated by Jens Timmermann and Mary Gregor (CUP 2011, 2013). You may either use the 'facing page' edition with the original text included, or you may use the paperback, English-only edition. (2) Arthur Schopenhauer, On the Basis of Morality in The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics, translated by David Cartwright and Edward Erdmann (OUP 2010). (3) G.W.F. Hegel - "The Scientific Ways of Treating Natural Law, Its Place in Moral Philosophy, and Its Relation to the Positive Sciences of Law in Hegel, Natural Law," translated by T.M. Knox, University of Pennsylvania Press, (4) John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (any edition is fine). (5) H.A. Prichard, Moral Writings, Clarendon Press (2002). (6) W.D. Ross, The Right and the Good (any edition is fine, I use Clarendon 2002) COMMUNICATION Please make sure that you check the associated with your LATTE registration on a regular basis. This is how I will send messages about the class, including any messages about late starts or canceled classes. DISABILITIES If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see Prof. Moran immediately. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Never represent work or ideas that are not your own as your own. Always use proper citation techniques, even when you are not quoting another author directly. All instances of suspected academic dishonsty will be forwarded immediately to the Director of Academic Integrity

3 COURSE SCHEDULE JANUARY 11 FEBRUARY 1: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO KANT'S MORAL THEORY January 11 & 16: January 23 & 25: January 30 & February 1: Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Introduction and Section 1 Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Section II Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Section III FEBRUARY 6 & 8: THE RIGHT AND THE GOOD Pistorius, Review of the Groundwork (L) Kant, Critique of Practical Reason, V 3 14, (L) Suggested Secondary Reading: Heiner Klemme, "The Origin and Aim of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason," in Kant's Critique of Practical Reason: A Critical Guide, ed. Reath and Timmermann FEBRUARY 13 & 15: MORAL PSYCHOLOGY I Schiller, On Grace and Dignity (L) Williams, "Persons, Character, and Morality" (L) Suggested Secondary Readings: Marcia Baron, Kantian Ethics Almost Without Apology, ch 4 Jens Timmermann, 'Schiller's Scruples of Conscience' in Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals: A Commentary (Appendix A) FEBRUARY 20 & 22: FEBRUARY BREAK FEBRUARY 27 & MARCH 1: MORAL PSYCHOLOGY II Schopenhauer, On the Basis of Morals Suggested Secondary Reading: Paul Guyer, "Schopenhauer, Kant, and Compassion," Kantian Review 17(3),

4 MARCH 6 & 8: THE EMPTY FORMALISM OBJECTION Hegel, G.W.F. - "The Scientific Ways of Treating Natural Law, Its Place in Moral Philosophy, and Its Relation to the Positive Sciences of Law in Hegel, Natural Law." Suggested Reading: Wood, Allen. Hegel s Critique of Morality in G.W.F. Hegel: Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts. Ed. Ludwig Siep. Akademie Verlag: Berlin, 1997, MARCH 13 & 15: KANT AND CONSEQUENTIALISM J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, chs. 1 and 5 Suggested Secondary Readings: Richard Hare, Could Kant have been a Utilitarian? Utilitas Vol. 5, No. 1, 1993, pg (Reprinted as Ch. 8 of Hare, Richard. Sorting Out Ethics. Clarendon: Oxford, 1997, ) Derek Parfit, On What Matters, OUP, 2011 (chs 16 and 17) MARCH 20 & 22: FREEDOM OF THE WILL Henry Sidgwick, "Appendix: On Kant's Conception of Free Will" in The Methods of Ethics. (L, but everyone should have a copy!) MARCH 27 & 29: INTUITIONISM H.A. Prichard, Moral Obligation W.D. Ross, The Right an the Good (selections) APRIL 3 & 5: PASSOVER BREAK APRIL 10 & 12: AUTONOMY G.E.M. Anscombe, "Modern Moral Philosophy" Philosophy 33 (124), (L) Suggested Reading: Parfit, On What Matters, vol. II, Appendix H: Autonomy and Categorical Imperatives - 4 -

5 APRIL 17 & 19: KANT AND FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY Sally Sedgwick, "Can Kant's Ethics Survive the Feminist Critique?" (L) Marcia Baron, "Kantian Ethics and Claims of Detachment" (L) APRIL 24 & 26: PAPER PRESENTATIONS - 5 -