This project originated in the fall of 1988 when I traveled to Marburg (Germany) to consult with Werner Stark, who was working in the Kant-Archiv housed in the philosophy department of Philipps-Universität, and who — along with a team led by Professor Reinhard Brandt of Marburg — was in the beginning stages of transcribing and editing the anthropology lecture notes for vol. 25 of the Academy Edition of Kant’s writings (co-edited with Brandt). Werner helped me learn to read the manuscripts of certain lecture notes on metaphysics that I was hoping to translate with Karl Ameriks, and he spent countless hours explaining the many aspects of their production, and of 18th century university life in general.
As is evident from his many publications, Dr. Stark is deeply familiar with issues surrounding Kant’s lectures, the notes, and his Nachlaß, and much of the information on this web-site comes from him and his published and unpublished work. I cite his contribution when there is a relevant publication, but because of the many months that I’ve consulted with him, spread out over almost as many years, it has at times been difficult sorting out my own contributions from his. As is customary in situations like this, I must credit Werner for whatever is helpful and true on these web-pages, while the failings should all be viewed as my own.
I would also like to acknowledge funding from the DAAD (a “Study Visit Research Grant for Faculty” for work in Marburg during the summer of 2000) and from my home institution (Manchester University) for sabbatical leaves during the academic years 1998/99 and 2005/06, which allowed me to spend six months each of these years in Marburg. Additional work in Germany during the spring and summer of 2007 was funded in part by a Fulbright grant. An NEH Summer Seminar for College Teachers (June-July 1994; Boston University, directed by James Schmidt) allowed me to continue my research in the context of a seminar on the German enlightenment. An NEH Travel Grant (Fall 1988) made possible my first contact and work with Werner Stark in Marburg.
I must also acknowledge help from many other quarters — scholars with whom I have discussed these matters in person, as well as a growing list of scholars who have generously contacted me through this website with corrections or with additional information. Dr. phil. Anke Lindemann-Stark (a constant source of information on 18th century matters), Dr. phil. Werner Euler (especially regarding Kant’s academic offices), Dr. phil. Thomas Sturm (on the history of universities), Dr. phil. Konstantin Pollok, Prof. Patrick Kain, Prof. Manfred Kuehn, Prof. Riccardo Pozzo, Prof. Eric Watkins, Dr. John Christopher Vivian, Arnaud Pelletier, Prof. Juan Bonaccini, Dr. med. Detlev Parow, Andrew Sellon, Dott. Loretta Marcon, Karl-Heinz Raschtutti, Prof. Burt Louden, Rüdiger Jester, Prof. Alberto Vanzo, Prof. Robert Clewis, Prof. Courtney Fugate, Sandra Johst, Naomi Tiley, Dr. Bethany Hamblen, Dr. Tim Kunze, Prof. Hans Förstl, Inna Rezchikova, Professor Dr. Takashi Sugiyama, Marco Santi, and Prof. Heiner Klemme.
Finally, I would surely have never blundered into all this work had it not been for the kind invitation from my Doktorvater, Karl Ameriks, to join him on the original project of translating Kant’s metaphysics lectures into English. Thanks Karl.