Teaching Materials II‑4 European Philosophy from Kant
Supervision essay questions and reading lists. University of Cambridge, 2021–24.
Each set asks for one essay of no more than 2,500 words. The topics of this paper are historical, so the primary text is always the first source of evidence, and it is often useful to quote it directly. An essay should nevertheless go beyond summarising the textual evidence: it should analyse the text philosophically, present its own argument, and evaluate primary and secondary sources critically. Situating that argument by comparison and debate with the secondary literature is usually a good way in.
Past exam questions →
Tripos questions on Kant, Hegel and Nietzsche from previous years.
Kant
-
Space, time and the Copernican Revolution
Kant seems to exclude the possibility of objective space and time in the Transcendental Aesthetic. How is this related to his “Copernican Revolution”? -
The apriority of space
Why, according to Kant, is space a priori? -
The metaphysical deduction
Does the metaphysical deduction by itself prove the apriority of the categories of the understanding? -
The transcendental deduction and apperception
“The I think must be able to accompany all my representations.” What is Kant’s justification for this claim, and what role does it play in the Transcendental Deduction? -
The Second Analogy
Does the Second Analogy aim to establish that causality governs objects of ordinary experience, or only scientific conceptions of the world? -
Freedom and the Third Antinomy
Is Kant a compatibilist about freedom? -
The resolution of the antinomies
What is the argumentative structure of Kant’s resolution to the antinomies of pure reason?
Hegel
-
Idealism
Is Hegel’s Logic a work of metaphysics? -
Dialectic
What is “Hegelian dialectic”? Explain with reference to the Lordship–Bondage section in the Phenomenology. -
Freedom
Does Hegel have a coherent conception of freedom?
Nietzsche
-
Tragedy and the justification of existence
“The existence of the world is justified only as an aesthetic phenomenon” (Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, §5). Discuss. -
Tragedy and Socratism
Do Nietzsche’s objections against Socratism succeed? -
Truth
Does Nietzsche advance a pragmatist account of truth? -
Morality (a): Genealogy
Does Nietzsche’s genealogical method directly undermine moral values? -
Morality (b): Will to Power
“Will” can only operate on “will” — and not on “matter” (Nietzsche). Discuss.