Refutation of Idealism, Phenomena and Noumena


	Week VIII: Refutation of Idealism, Phenomena and Noumena (pp. 326-37, 354-83)

	General Secondary Reading (optional): Allison pp. 3-73, 275-303.

	Question 1) Assess the argument of the Refutation of Idealism. What are its premises? Is the argument sound? Secondary literature: Walsh, 33, 189-95; Wilkerson, 81-91; Wolff, 164-7, 299-301; Allison, 275-303; Strawson, 124-8; Bennett, 202-18; Walker, 106-21

	Question 2) Which form of idealism is a more serious threat to Kant's philosophy, Berkeley's or Descartes's? Does Kant adequately distinguish his own philosophy from this (threatening) idealism? Does he adequately argue against it? Secondary literature: Read at least four sources from questions 1 and 3 (depending upon which idealism you focus on).

	Question 3) Is Kant's idealism really different from Berkeley's? If so, how? Secondary literature: Wilkerson, 180-98; Wolff, 164-78, 190-202, 299-301; Allison, 3-49; Pippin, 188-93; Bennett, 126-30

	Question 4) How do phenomena and noumena relate to one another? (Are they two ways of looking at objects? Two kinds of objects? Real objects and (mere) appearances? Etc.) Secondary literature: Smith, 412-7; Wilkerson, 180-98; Strawson, 170-4, 235-56; Walsh, 88-96, 159-67; Pippin, 188-201; Allison 50-73 (optional: Allison 3-49); van Cleve 134-67

	Question 5) Is the posit of "things-in-themselves" a necessary part of Kant's system? Is it justifiable? What exactly is the "transcendental object"? Secondary literature: Smith, 404-17; Walsh, 88-96, 159-67; Strawson, 235-73; Allison, 3-73; Pippin, 188-215; Walker, 122-35; van Cleve 134-67

Week VIII: Refutation of Idealism, Phenomena and Noumena (pp. 326-37, 354-83)