Having completed this module students should be able to articulate the central claims in Hume's Enquiry concerning Human Understanding and in Kant's groundbreaking Critique of Pure Reason. Students will also be able to identify some of the leading characteristics of that period of thought known as the Enlightenment. The module will help students to understand and think creatively about central notions in epistemology and metaphysics, to gain facility with such concepts as empiricism, transcendental arguments, causal inference, our knowledge of space and time, substance and identity, the unity of consciousness, and sceptical questions arising from problems of perception and objectivity. One central learning outcome will be further developing one's ability to structure an interpretive and argumentative essay in philosophy clearly and forcefully, improving one's ability to produce good analytical, argument-based written work in general. Students will gain practice in thinking hard about complex concepts and argument forms both in their historical context and in their continuing importance today.

This module provides a complete introduction to the central themes in Hume's epistemology and in Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, also providing background on the Enlightenment and on Hume and Kant's predecessors..

It is highly recommended, but not strictly required, that students have completed at least one philosophy course previously, before attempting this course, as the readings from Kant’s Critique are quite technical and difficult (although deep and interesting, too!).

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

Individual feedback on essay within three weeks of submission.