Kant's Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science was published in
1786-between the first (1781) and second (1787) editions of the
Critique of Pure Reason and thus at the height of Kant's so-called
critical period.  In this work Kant undertakes a systematic account of
the foundations of physical science:  more specifically, of the
Newtonian physics dominant in his day.  The first half of this seminar
will discuss Kant's Metaphysical Foundations in considerable detail,
paying special attention to the relationship between Kant's views on
the foundations of science here and his understanding of Newtonian
physics.  In the second half we will then consider the relationship
between Kant's philosophy of physical science and his more general
philosophical conception expressed in the first Critique  and the
Prolegomena.  The primary reading for the seminar will consist of the
Metaphysical Foundations (trans. Friedman and available xeroxed),
together with parts of the Critique of Pure Reason and the
Prolegomena.  The written work for the course will consist of a
seminar paper.  If sufficient interest exists, we may also have a
weekly subsection for those who want to read the original texts in
German.