Table: Kant’s Lectures by Semester

[1] WS 55/56: Schöndörffer located a partial list of students who attended Kant’s lectures this first semester. Among the theology students, 21 students are listed (including Borowski and Kant’s younger brother, Johan Heinrich). There were also two listed from the law faculty. Most student names simply mentioned “Philosophy” as the subject, but five listed “Mathematics,” three “Metaphysics,” and one “Logic” (none listed “Physics”). See Schöndörffer’s note in Arnoldt [1908-9, v.179].

[2] WS 55/56 (mathematics): Martin [1767, 60] and Kuehn [2001, 109] suggest that Kant offered a two-semester series of lectures on mathematics, consisting of a semester of pure (arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry) and a semester of applied (mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, aerometrics).

[3] SS 56 (geography): Schöndörffer, in an editorial note to Arnoldt [1908-9, v.338], reports that the records show the Physical Geography lectures indeed taking place for 66, 67, 68/69, and 74, and they they were probably read in 1756.

[4] SS 56 (mathematics): Langhansen, in the Senate minutes of June 19, 1756, declared himself unable to teach his private courses because of other duties, but that students would not be lacking in mathematics lectures because of the offerings by Christiani, Buck, von Sanden, and Kant [Arnoldt 1908-9, v.180].

[5] WS 56/57 (metaphysics): Arnoldt lists this course as having definitely taken place, but no basis is given for this, and the listing may have been an oversight.

[6] WS 56/57 (geography): This lecture was given either in 1756 or 1756/57, but probably in the latter. We know from his lecture announcement for SS 1757 (Ak. 2:4) that he had already lectured once on physical geography, and university records show Borowski signed-up to hear Kant’s lectures on Metaphysics and Physics in 1756, and Metaphysics, Physics, and Physical Geography in 1756/57 [Arnoldt 1908-9, v.180]; but see note to SS 56 (geography), above.

[6a] The evidence the logic lectures in WS 1757/58 and the metaphysics lectures in WS 1758/59 is found in Kant’s application letters for the full professorship of Logic and Metaphysics that he wrote in December 1758 (see the discussion of Kant’s application for the position).  In each of the three letters that he wrote — to the Rector and Academic Senate (Dec. 11; #7, Ak. 10:4), to the Philosophy Faculty (Dec. 12; #8, Ak. 10:5), and to Empress Catherine of Russia (Dec. 14; #9, Ak. 10:7) — Kant claims that he had lectured on each of the two subjects (logic, metaphysics) during each semester that he had been lecturing at the university — in his letter to the Rector and Academic Senate, he claims that he also taught additional courses privatissima.  Given that these claims were about the recent past, and that the records would have been readily accessible, there is essentially no reason not to take these claims at face value.

[7] 1758(Easter): The Russians occupied Königsberg from January 1758 until March 1763. It is unclear to what extent the Russian Calendar (the old Julian Calendar) was introduced and used in Königsberg during this occupation period. In general, one must add (for the 18th century) 11 days to the Julian date to arrive at the corresponding Gregorian date. Easter was also calculated differently, and so I include the Russian Orthodox dates below the Gregorian dates. These Easter dates are given in terms of the calendars that the respective celebrants would have used: the top date is for Easter in the western church, given in terms of the western (Gregorian) calendar; the lower date is for Easter in the Russian church, given in terms of the Russian (Julian) calendar. For example, Russian Orthodox Easter for 1758 fell on April 19 using the Russian calendar; this was April 30 in terms of the Gregorian calendar.

[8] WS 58/59: The records are missing for this semester, probably a result of the change of government. The Russian occupation of Königsberg began 22 January 1758.

[9] WS 58/59 (logic): There is some evidence that Hippel [bio] attended Kant’s lectures on logic this semester (as well as the Physical Geography lectures of the previous semester (SS 1758); see Schneider [1911, 47].

[10] WS 63/64: Hamann’s letter to Lindner tells us that Kant is offering courses on mathematics and physical geography to General Meyer and his officers this semester; likewise a memoire from August Hagen.  These courses were no doubt privatissima, and not those listed in the catalog.  J. G. Herder attended Kant’s physical geography lectures during two different semesters, which could have happened only during 1763/64 and 1764, since it is inconceivable that the young, socially awkward Herder would have been part of General Meyer’s group.

[11] WS 63/64 (mathematics): Privatissima, with General Meyer and his officers (see note above).

[12] SS 66: For this semester, 1766, Kant was listed as teaching Logic, Metaphysics, either Moral Philosophy or Physics (whichever drew more students), and Physical Geography. These were all to be four hour courses. In addition, he was going to finish his lectures from the previous semester on Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy, holding these lectures on Wednesday and Saturday. In effect, this would be two extra courses, since the material being presented would be completely different from what was occurring in the other sections of Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy. (Later records show that Kant did indeed teach Moral Philosophy rather than Physics.)

[13] SS 67: Kant taught an additional unnamed course (privatissima), presumably in place of the announced Logic lectures [Arnoldt 1908-9, v.214].

[14] WS 67/68: Schöndörffer notes a further complication with this semester.  In the records of the Budget Ministry [139b, vol. IV], Kant writes in his own hand the following: “M. Immanuel Kant Proximo semestri collegia destinavit quae sequuntur: Hora VIII-IX Collegium Logices in Meierum, IX-X Collegium Juris Naturae denuo in Achenwallium instituendum, X-XI Encyclopaediam quandum totius philosophiae uno semestri pertractandam, una cum historia eius succincta, secundum librum haud inelegantem: Grundriss der philosophischen Wissensh. nebst der nötigen Geschichte von J. G. Feder in usum eorum, quibus omnia fusius persequi non vacat., XI-XII Metaphysicam in Baumgartenium. Hora pomeridiana III-IV Geographiam physicam. Quaedam horum collegiorum qualibet hebdomade sex, quaedam tantum quatuor et unum octo horas sibi vindicabunt” [qtd. Arnoldt 1908-9, v.216]. In other words, Kant lists himself as teaching Natural Law rather than Practical Philosophy. In the Acta Phil., V, 718, we find a similar list as the one above, except that Physical Geography is listed for 10-11, and Phil. Encycl. for 3-4 — i.e., their times were switched. In the records of the Academic Senate [vol. III, Fol. 284], in Kant’s own hand, a brief list of courses (no times mentioned): “M. Immanuel Kant per semestre hybernum quinque collegia privata ingressus atque emensus est. (etc)” with Practical Philosophy replacing Natural Law.

[14a]WS 68/69: This Encyclopedia was given privatissima.

[15] SS 69: An additional, unnamed privatissima is listed for this semester.

[16] WS 69/70: Two additional, unnamed privatissima are listed for this semester.

[17] SS 70 (logic): Arnoldt claims that Kant read his logic lectures twice this semester, which was his first semester as a full professor: publicly the first hour, and privately the second.  It might seem unlikely that a professor could attract paying students for a course of lectures when they could receive the same thing for free, yet we find Buck doing this routinely (this is the only semester that Kant is alleged to have done this).  The public lectures were seen as offerings for the poor, and so were avoided (if possible) by wealthier students; what is more, the private lectures normally attracted fewer students, and therefore were more comfortable to attend.  It is true that Kant wrote in a letter to Herz (15 December 1778) that he has “taught Logic and Metaphysics since 1770 only publicly” [Ak. 10:246; repr. Malter 1990, 152], but even if Kant meant 1770 precisely (rather than as a roundabout reference to the beginning of his professorship), this memory of eight years should not be allowed to override Kant’s own written statement in the faculty records that, for instance, his course on metaphysics for SS 1771 (which would have been privately taught) was “held and completed” [Olsztyn XXVIII, I, 200, p. 319].  These considerations also apply to SS 71 and to WS 71/72, where Arnoldt lists Kant as having lectured on metaphysics privatissima.

[18] SS 70 (geography): This lecture is missing in the Lecture Catalog, but in another set of minutes we find the entry, in Kant’s own hand: “Diebus Mercurii et Sabbathi Geographiam physicam” (Arnoldt, 1893/1908, 426-7).

[18a]SS 70: This Encyclopedia was given privatissima.

[19] WS 70/71: An additional, unnamed privatissima is listed for this semester.

[20] WS 70/71 (metaphysics): Catalog lists Kant using a textbook by Feder; this is most likely mistaken.

[21] WS 70/71 (mineralogy): Although Kant had been teaching his course on physical geography every semester, he does not this semester, presumably because of this offering in mineralogy.

[22] SS 71 (metaphysics): This was listed as being taught privately. On the plausibility that this course took place, see the note to SS 70 (logic), above.

[23] WS 71/72 (metaphysics): Kant is also listed as teaching a section privatissima(no time given).  See the note to SS 1770 (logic), above.

[24] WS 71/72 (geography): Schöndörffer reports that this class is crossed out in the minutes of the Etats-Ministerium; unclear whether it actually took place [Arnoldt 1908-9, v.235].

[25] WS 72/73: See Baczko’s report of Kant’s metaphysics lectures [repr. Malter 1990, 117-18].

[26] WS 72/73 (geography): Kant held a course of privatissima lectures on Physical Geography in the home of Herzog Friedrich von Holstein-Beck to a “mixed circle” of auditors.  A set of notes were prepared from this course of lectures, corrected and in part amended in Kant’s own hand, and then presented by Kant to the Herzog. This is the extant an-Holstein-Beck manuscript, and currently our best basis for the Physical Geography lectures.

[27] WS 72/73 (anthropology): This was Kant’s first semester to lecture on Anthropology. He had announced he would lecture on Theoretical Physics at this hour, but he didn’t attract enough students.

[28] WS 73/74: See Baczko’s report of staying in Kant’s lecture hall between classes to stay warm [repr. Malter 1990, 119-20].

[29] WS 73/74 (anthropology): Letter to Herz (near the end of 1773: “Ich lese in diesem Semester zum 2ten Mal....” [Ak. 10:145; repr. Malter 1990, 126-7].

[30] WS 73/74 (moral philosophy): Kant’s class list has been preserved, and shows nineteen student signatures, with two crossed out, and with 13 marked as having paid their honorarium.  The list is stored at the New York Public Library (Lee Kohns Memorial Collection, Box 9), and is reprinted in Stark [2004a, 370].

[31] WS 74/75 (anthropology): Schöndörffer, in an editorial note to Arnoldt [1908-9, v.338], reports that the records show the Anthropology lectures indeed taking place for 74/75, 83/84, 84/85, and 86/87.

[32] SS 75 (natural law) Beginning- and end-dates for Natural Law: 5/7 (Sun) - 10/7 (Sat). For Encyclopedia: 5/7 (Sun) - 10/7 (Sat). There is little reason to believe that these courses were actually taught on Sunday.

[33] SS 76 (practical): Arnoldt [1908-9, iv.423].

[34] WS 76/77 (pedagogy): Whether Pedagogy met both Wednesday and Saturday, or only Wednesday, is not known. If the former, then it met for 43 hours (minus any recesses); if the latter, 22 hours.

[35] SS 77: In a letter to Herz (10 August 1777) Kant reports Mendelssohn’s visit to his classroom on August 18 [Ak. 10: 211; repr. Malter 1990, 142-3]. Also, the end-date for Logic is most likely Sept. 19 (Friday), rather than Sept. 20 (the date given in Arnoldt [1908-9, v.243]).

[36] SS 77 (moral philosophy): The records are ambiguous as to Kant lecturing on Moral Philosophy during SS 1777. According to Arnoldt [1908-9, v.244], the published lecture catalog shows Kant intending to lecture only on Logic, Natural Law, Physical Geography, and a Repetitorium on Logic during this semester; what is actually offered will occasionally deviate from the intentions announced in the lecture catalog, but Schöndörffer, in an editorial note to Arnoldt, reports that the records of the Budget Ministry also show Kant giving only these four courses. The only official record for Kant having actually taught this course comes from Kant himself, in a report entered into the Senate minutes (vol. 5), and with all the detail shown in the present table. An additional bit of evidence for the course having taken place is a set of notes on moral philosophy bearing the name of Johann Friedrich Kaehler and dated this very semester, with the date of 19 September 1777, written at the end of the notes (this was the last day of lectures as indicated in Kant’s report).
    Two additional points, although more circumstantial, speak against Kant’s having taught Moral Philosophy this semester. First, a list of current law students for WS 1777/78 includes Johan Friedrich Kaehler, and notes that Kaehler is currently taking Metaphysics, Anthropology, and Moral Philosophy from Kant. (This is our only evidence, however, for Kant teaching Moral Philosophy during WS 1777/78; and even if this were correct, it was not unusual for students to repeat courses, so Kaehler may well have attended Kant’s class both semesters.) Second, if Kant taught moral philosophy in SS 1777, he would violate three patterns discernible in his lectures after WS 1772/73: that he never lectured on Moral Philosophy without also lecturing on Anthropology, that he never lectured on Natural Law and Moral Philosophy during the same semester, and that he never offered the same course two semesters in a row. In addition, there was some incentive to avoid offering moral philosophy in the summer semesters, when the full professor of practical philosophy, Karl Andreas Christiani, would routinely offer it publicly (although that particular summer he lectured on natural law). In all, however, the weight of the evidence — and in particular Kant’s own note — speaks in favor of this class having taken place.

[37] WS 77/78 (anthropology): These dates given by Arnoldt [1908-9, iv.330] are surely wrong, since the class is recorded as occurring on Wednesday and Saturday (as usual). If we assume that the actual end-dates were 10/15 (W) and 4/4 (S), then the semester lasted 100 hours (minus vacation time, of course).

[38] WS 77/78 (practical): This was a Thursday; the date is almost certainly written in error.

[39] SS 78: See Bernoulli’s report of his visit (Wednesday, July 1) to Kant’s lectures on physical geography [repr. Malter 1990, 146-47].

[40] SS 78 (geography): We see from the end-date that Kant has slipped into the normal vacation period (since the semesters are divided by Michaelmas (Sept. 29) and Easter. Yet the number of hours taught was average. He began as soon as he could (the Wednesday of the third week following Easter), but because Easter fell so late that year, the summer semester was shortened considerably.

[41] SS 80 (natural law/pedagogy): Beginning- and end-dates for Natural Law: 4/13 (Th ) - 9/22(F). For Pedagogy: 4/12 (W) - 9/13 (W). If Pedagogy met both Wednesday and Saturday, then it met for 45 hours during the semester (minus any recesses); otherwise it met for 23 hours.

[42] SS 82: See Puttlich’s report of Kant’s lectures on logic, physical geography, and repetitorium [repr. Malter 1990, 186]. Puttlich writes in his diary, for April 20 (Saturday), that “Professor Kant did not repeat Logic this morning, but rather lectured only on Physical Geography from 8 until 10.” As was his custom, Kant would not begin his repetitorium until the following Saturday (April 27). Puttlich also confirms the last date for the Physical Geography (Sept. 21).

[43] WS 82/83: See again Puttlich’s report of Kant’s lectures, this time Metaphysics and Anthropology [repr. Malter 1990, 190]. For Puttlich’s entry for 20 March 1783 [repr. Malter 1990, 238], however, we find a puzzle. Puttlich reports that Kant finished his Anthropology on that day; but March 20 is a Thursday and the Anthropology lectures were Wednesday and Saturday (furthermore, they are listed in the university records as ending on April 2 (Wednesday).
The end-date for Metaphysics (Tuesday, April 15) is unusual. Kant usually ended on Friday, and the expected end-date would have been April 11; so either he extended the course or the wrong date was entered.

[44] WS 82/83 (anthropology): The Lecture Catalog reads “8-9,” but this is certainly a typo [Arnoldt 1908-9, iv.330].

[45] SS 83: See Puttlich’s diary entry for 7 May 1783: “In the morning at 8 o’clock I went to Prof. Kant, who was beginning his lectures on physical geography” (repr. in Malter 1990, 239). This was the recorded day for the beginning of this set of lectures.

[46] SS 83 (geography): The Lecture Catalog reads: "1783, dd. M. et S. h. viii-ix privatim," but should probably read: "viii-x." Similarly, the first class in Arnoldt reads “17. May” (a Saturday), but this is possibly a misprint; May 7 was the Wednesday following the election of the Rector, and so would have been the normal day to begin [1908-9, iv.430]. Kant had been beginning this class on schedule since 1777, and he continued to do so until his retirement (at least for those semesters for which dates are provided).

[47] WS 83/84: On the Philosophical Theology lectures, see Hamann’s letter to Herder (26 October 1783): “He is now lecturing on philosophical theology to an amazing throng of auditors” [repr. Malter 1990, 240].

[48] WS 83/84 (pedagogy): Schwarz [1915, 51] provides these dates for the Pedagogy lectures; the closing date is surely not correct; it also falls after Easter.

[49] SS 84 (geography): An-Königsberg 4 has as its closing date 22 September 1784 [Arnoldt 1908-9, iv.430].

[50] SS 85: See Puttlich’s diary entry from 13 April 1785: “went at 7:30 to Prof. Kant in order to hear again the lectures on physical geography [which began today]. I also spoke there with Nicolovius and Fleischer. The lecture room was very full of students” [repr. Malter 1990, 262], and also his entry for September 17: “Kant ended today his lectures on physical geography. He hurried quite a bit at the end, and seemed to lecture with great carelessness” [repr. Malter 190, 268]. On this basis do we report the dates for Physical Geography for this semester. See also Puttlich’s entry for April 30, where he explains that Kant is allowing students to repeat the lecture one time (for free, as was the custom at the university). See also Hamann’s letter to Schefner (12 May 1785), where he reports that his son, along with Ernst and Raphael [??] are also attending the Physical Geography and Logic lectures this semester [repr. Malter 1990, 265].

[51] SS 86 (logic): See Hamann’s letter to Jacobi (Thursday, May 4, 1786): “I went to Kant’s around 6 o’clock [in the morning] with my Michel. One has to look for a place to sit an hour before he starts to lecture, at least in the first month at the beginning of the semester, so great is his popularity” [Ziesemer/Henkel, vi.380; repr. Malter 1990, 300].

[52] WS 86/87 (pedagogy): Arnoldt reads “Saturday” [1908-9, v.288]. Schwarz [1915] provides the dates. I suspect that Schwarz is mistaken.

[53] WS 88/89 (moral philosophy): [the records show 3/21; cite Arnoldt ??check]

[54] SS 91: See Fichte’s report of these lectures [repr. Malter 1990, 372-73].

[55] WS 91/92: See the case between Lehmann, Kant’s amanuensis, and a student in Kant’s lecture [repr. Malter 1990, 379-81].

[56] SS 93: See Thibaut’s report of these lectures [repr. Malter 1990, 398]: “Several times I heard him begin his lectures by saying: I lecture not for geniuses, as these chart their own course according to their natures, nor for the stupid, as it isn’t worth the trouble, but rather for those who stand in the middle, who want to be educated for their future careers....”

[57] SS 93 (geography): The Vigilantius 1 notes have a closing date of “Sept. 14” (a Saturday).

[58] WS 93/94: See Reusch’s report of these lectures [repr. Malter 1990, 400-2]. The description of Kant’s lectures by Christian Friedrich Reusch (1778-1848), the son of Carl Daniel Reusch (Kant’s colleague and professor of physics), began his studies at Königsberg WS 1793/94.

[59] WS 93/94 (moral philosophy): The student notes Vigilantius 4 has the beginning date: “d 14. 8ber 93/94” (i.e., 14 October 1993). This course was offered publicly instead of Metaphysics, which Kant normally taught at this time.

[60] WS 94/95 (anthropology) The report sent to Berlin reads “nach Diktat,” i.e., from Kant’s own notes as opposed to a textbook. Kant had always read the second half of the Anthropology lectures from his notes (the first half was based on the Empirical Psychology section of Baumgarten’s Metaphysica).

[61] SS 95: See Purgstall’s report of these lectures [repr. Malter 1990, 418-19].

[62] SS 96 (logic): This closing date is problematic since it falls on a Saturday, and the Logic lectures were given on MTThF. Kant would traditionally offer a one-hour Examinatorium on Saturdays from 7-8 in the morning, but there is no evidence that he offered one this semester.