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PHILOSOPHY 234: NINETEENTH CENTURY
CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY
Fall, 1999
Required Texts
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Houlgate, ed. |
The Hegel Reader (Blackwell) |
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Tucker, ed. |
The Marx-Engels Reader (Norton) |
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Kierkegaard, |
Fear and Trembling (Penguin) |
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Nietzsche |
Basic Writings (Modern Library) |
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In addition, there will be a number of copied selections from
Kojève, Feuerbach, Comte, Kierkegaard. |
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Course Objectives
Philosophy in the 19th century underwent several revolutionary
changes as philosophers became increasingly sensitive to ideological
and historical considerations and the normative biases of the
thinking subject. During the semester, we will examine in some
detail a number of major nineteenth century thinkers, including
Hegel, Marx, Comte, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche. Our examination
will focus on several themes, including human beings' understanding
of themselves, the critique of transcendental philosophizing,
the critique of philosophical system-building, the "death
of God", hermeneutics, and ideology-critique. The goal of
this course is to promote an understanding both of 19th century
philosophy and the ways in which 19th century thought informs
some of the dominant views of the 20th century.
Course Requirements: Final
grades will be determined on the basis of overall class participation
and the following requirements [percentage of final grade in
brackets]:
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1. |
Midterm paper on Hegel and his critics: 5-6 pages. [30%]
Due: Oct. 15. |
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2. |
Final paper comparing two or more thinkers: 10-12 pages.
[45%] Due: Dec. 13. |
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3. |
Oral Presentation: in the last two weeks of class, each
student will present an oral summary of the thesis and conclusions
of their final paper. This summary should be 6-10 minutes in
length and will be followed by a brief discussion of questions
raised by other class members. [10%] NOTE: Depending on the size
of the class and how quickly we proceed, this requirement might
be canceled. |
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4. |
Position Papers: each week, submit on Monday a one-page
typed comment on some aspect of the reading of that week. These
papers will be graded, and will be figured into your class participation
grade component. |
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5. |
Class Participation. [15%] In addition to participating
in class, you will be asked to submit a discussion question by
10:00 am to the class "Bulletin Board" on the web.
Address to be provided. |
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ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend
class. Although attendance normally will not be taken, more than
three unexcused absences will result
in a lowering of your grade for the class participation component.
More than SIX unexcused absences will result in failure of the
course.
LATE POLICY: Written assignments which are submitted
late will be penalized one letter grade
for each 24 hours late. Papers submitted more than 48 hours late
will NOT be accepted. Exceptions to this policy will be
made only for medical reasons.
Philosophy 234: Nineteenth Century Continental Philosophy
Professor Alan Schrift
Tentative Course Outline
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Week of: |
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Aug. 30 |
INTRODUCTION |
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HEGEL: |
Selections from Encyclopaedia Logic: "Introduction,"
pp. 133-38 |
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MARCUSE: |
Selections from Reason and Revolution [Handout] |
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SOLOMON: |
Hegel Glossary [Handout] |
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HEGEL: |
Selections from Phenomenology of Spirit, pp. 70-78 |
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Sept. 6 |
HEGEL: |
Selections from Phenomenology of Spirit, pp. 79-86, 87-105,
120-123 |
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KOJÈVE: |
Selection from Introduction to Reading Hegel [Handout] |
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Sept. 13 |
HEGEL: |
Phenomenology of Mind, Concluding discussion |
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FEUERBACH: |
Selection from The Essence of Christianity [Handout] |
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Sept. 20 |
MARX: |
"Critique of Hegel's Dialectic" (pp. 106-125, Skim) |
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"Preface to Contribution to Critique of Political Economy"
(pp. 3-6) |
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"Contribution to the Critique of Hegel" (pp. 53-55) |
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"Theses on Feuerbach" (pp. 143-145) |
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"1844 Manuscripts: Estranged Labor" (pp. 70-82) |
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"1844 Manuscripts: Private Property and Communism (pp. 81-93) |
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"1844 Manuscripts: The Power of Money (pp. 101-105) |
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Selections from The German Ideology (pp. 148-175) |
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Sept. 27 |
MARX: |
Selections from The German Ideology (pp. 186-197) |
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The Communist Manifesto, Parts I & II (pp. 469-491) |
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Oct. 4 |
MARX: |
Selections from Capital (pp. 302-308, 319-329) |
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Selections from Wage Labour and Capital (pp. 204-210) |
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The Origin of the Family (pp. 734-750) |
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COMTE: |
Selections from The Positive Philosophy [Handout] |
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Oct. 11 |
KIERKEGAARD: |
Selection from Concluding Unscientific Postscript [Handout] |
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Fear and Trembling, pp. 41-95 |
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Oct. 15 |
MIDTERM PAPER DUE |
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Oct. 16-24 |
FALL BREAK |
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Nov. 1 |
KIERKEGAARD: |
Fear and Trembling, pp. 96-147 |
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Nov. 8 |
NIETZSCHE: |
Birth of Tragedy, Sections 1-5 and "Attempt at a
Self-Criticism" |
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NIETZSCHE: |
Selections from Thus Spoke Zarathustra [Handout] |
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Nov. 15 |
NIETZSCHE: |
Beyond Good and Evil, Preface & Part One |
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Nov. 22 |
NIETZSCHE: |
Beyond Good and Evil, Parts Two and Three |
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Nov. 25-28 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK |
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Nov. 29 |
NIETZSCHE: |
On the Genealogy of Morals, Essays I & II |
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Dec. 6 |
NIETZSCHE: |
On the Genealogy of Morals, Essay III |
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Dec. 13 |
FINAL PAPER DUE |
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