Content: In the history of philosophy the term „ultimate grounding“ has been widely discussed. Especially “Agrippa's five tropes” are one of the most important problems regarding the possibility of self and ultimate grounding. Based on a systematic discussion of these tropes, we will analyze historical attempts and check their claims of validity. The focus will be put on selected passages e.g. from Parmenides, Gorgias, Plato, Descartes, Hume und Kant.

Objectives: The students shall

˗ be able to reproduce the discussed philosophical questions in own terms.

˗ be acquainted with and understand fundamental problems, concepts and methods of philosophical analysis.

˗ be able to critically state, reflect and discuss their own positions.

˗ be able to present one of the text passages and write a scientific paper.

Content: The course should arouse the interest in and the understanding of central philosophical questions and encourage the students to develop independent thinking. Through reading and discussing selected texts the participants shall acquire basic knowledge of central philosophical concepts, methods, approaches and positions. Additionally, this course gives an introduction to fundamental methods and aspects of scientific work.

Objective: The students shall

˗ be able to reproduce the discussed philosophical questions in own terms.

˗ be acquainted with and understand fundamental problems, concepts and methods of philosophical analysis.

˗ be able to critically state, reflect and discuss their own positions.

˗ be able to present one of the text passages and write a scientific paper.

Content: With the interpretation of Kant’s scientific writings the course offers an introduction to a rather less discussed aspect of Kantian philosophy. The main focus lies on the “Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science”, the “Prolegomena” and other text passages, in which Kant explains his understanding of natural science. Starting from Kant’s theoretical philosophy his position to empirical laws of natural science will be reconstructed and set in relation to historical conditions of the 18th century.

Objective: The students should understand the philosophical problem of Kant’s concept of natural science based on his theoretical philosophy. In addition, students should acquire the skills to deal independently with philosophical questions.

Content: The course deals with a term that has significant meaning for the history of philosophy and occupies a very central role in different philosophical topics: the concept of the idea. The task of the course will be to analyze the historical and structural changes of this term from its usage in ancient to modern times. Focus will be put on Kant’s concept of idea and selected passages from other philosophers.

Objective: The students should understand the philosophical problem of the concept idea in its historical and systematic dimension.

Content: The course offers an introduction to basic problems and methods of philosophical thinking. The focus will be put on a central topic of the modern philosophy: the proofs of the existence of God. Starting from selected texts (of Thomas Aquinas, Anselm of Canterbury, René Descartes and the criticism of Immanuel Kant) the proofs will be critically reflected, analyzed and interpreted. In addition, the course will provide an introduction into basic methods and techniques of scientific work such as citation, the construction of a seminar paper, philosophical argumentation and literature review.

Objective: The students shall

˗ be able to reproduce the discussed philosophical questions in own terms.

˗ be acquainted with and understand fundamental problems, concepts and methods of philosophical analysis.

˗ be able to critically state, reflect and discuss their own positions.

˗ be able to present one of the text passages and write a scientific paper.

Content: In the philosophy of the 20th century the term „ultimate grounding “ has been widely discussed. Especially the “Münchhausen-Trilemma” of Hans Albert is one of the most important problems regarding the possibility of self and final grounding. Based on a systematic discussion of the “Begründungstrilemma” we will analyse historical attempts and check their claims of validity. The focus will be put on selected passages i. a. from Plato, Kant and Hegel.

Objective: The students should understand the philosophical problem of „ultimate grounding “ in its historical and systematic dimensions.

Content: This seminar is a problem-oriented introduction into early modern philosophy. The aim of the seminar is to understand the historical context of the „Critique of Pure Reason“ under the keyword of a “Copernican Turn”.

Objective: The students shall

˗ be able to reproduce the discussed philosophical questions in own terms.

˗ be acquainted with and understand fundamental problems, concepts and methods of philosophical analysis.

˗ be able to critically state, reflect and discuss their own positions.

˗ be able to present one of the text passages and write a scientific paper.