Karl von der Luft

Karl von der Luft
Joint Degree Program in Social Thought and Philosophy

Previous Education

BA, St. John’s College, Santa Fe

MA, Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago

Interests

Kant, Post-Kantian German Idealism, Phenomenology, Ancient Greek Philosophy

Recent Courses

PHIL 29200-01/29300-01 Junior/Senior Tutorial

Topic: Heidegger’s Critique of German Idealism

Martin Heidegger claimed that the entire western philosophical tradition reached its ‘culmination’ (Vollendung) in the philosophy of German Idealism. In this course we will take this diagnosis seriously, work to understand its presuppositions and implications, and attempt to assess its cogency. This will involve an intensive study of Heidegger’s interpretations of Kantian and Hegelian metaphysics. We will read Heidegger’s most significant works on Kant’s theoretical and practical philosophy from the 1920s through the 1960s, as well as his central writings on Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit and Science of Logic. We will also take into account some secondary literature by Sebastian Gardner, Dieter Henrich, Robert Pippin and others. A coda to the course may consider the connection between freedom and system in German Idealism via Heidegger’s major interpretation of F.W.J. Schelling’s Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom (1809).

Meets with Jr/Sr section. Open only to intensive-track and philosophy majors. No more than two tutorials may be used to meet program requirements.

2025-2026 Spring
Category
German Idealism