Required Texts

Tucker, ed. The Marx-Engels Reader (Norton)
Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling/Repetition (Princeton)
Nietzsche Basic Writings (Modern Library)
Nietzsche The Gay Science

In addition to these texts, several readings have been places on E-reserve in Burling.

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 19th 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”, 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]:

1. Midterm paper on Hegel and his critics: 5-6 pages. [30%] Due: Oct. 15.

2. Final paper comparing two or more thinkers: 10-12 pages. [45%] Due: Dec. 13.

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 cancelled.

4. Position Papers: each week, submit on Tuesday 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.

5. Class Participation. [15%] In addition to participating in class, you will be asked to submit a discussion question by 10:00am on the day of class to the class “Bulletin Board” on the web. Address to be provided.

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.

MEETINGS:

Date	Assignment -
Aug. 26	INTRODUCTION -
Aug. 31	INTRODUCTION HEGEL: Selections from Logic [E-reserve] MARCUSE: Selections from Reason and Revolution [Reserve] SOLOMON: Hegel Glossary [E-reserve]
Sept. 2	HEGEL: Selections from Phenomenology of Spirit, §§73-89
Sept. 7 & 9	HEGEL: Selections from Phenomenology of Spirit, §§90-110, 166-212 KOJEVE: Selection from Introduction to the Reading of Hegel [Reserve]
Sept. 14, 16	HEGEL: Phenomenology of Mind, Concluding discussion FEUERBACH: Selection from The Essence of Christianity [Reserve]
Sept. 21	MARX: “Critique of Hegel’s Dialectic” (pp. 106-125, Skim) “Preface to Contribution to Critique of Political Economy” (pp. 3-6) “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel” (pp. 53-55) “Theses on Feuerbach” (pp. 143-145) “1844 Manuscripts: Estranged Labor” (pp. 70-82) “1844 Manuscripts: Private Property and Communism (pp. 81-93) “1844 Manuscripts: The Power of Money (pp. 101-105)
Sept. 23	Selections from The German Ideology (pp. 148-175)
Sept. 28	MARX: Selections from The German Ideology (pp. 186-197)
Sept. 30	The Communist Manifesto, Parts I & II (pp. 469-491)
Oct. 5	MARX: Selections from Capital (pp. 302-308, 319-329) Selections from Wage Labour and Capital (pp. 204-210) The Origin of the Family (pp. 734-750)
Oct. 7	COMTE: Selections from The Positive Philosophy [Reserve]
Oct. 12	KIERKEGAARD: Selection from Concluding Unscientific Postscript [E-reserve]
Oct. 14	Fear and Trembling, pp. 1-67
Oct. 15	MIDTERM PAPER DUE
Oct. 16-24 FALL BREAK
Oct. 26	KIERKEGAARD: Fear and Trembling, pp. 68-123
Oct. 28	?
Nov. 2	NIETZSCHE: “On Truth and Lies in a Non-Moral Sense,” Birth of Tragedy, Sections 1-5 and “Attempt at a Self-Criticism” Selections from Thus Spoke Zarathustra [E-reserve]
Nov. 4	NIETZSCHE: Beyond Good and Evil, Preface & Part One
Nov. 9	NIETZSCHE: The Gay Science, Preface, Books One, Three
Nov. 11	The Gay Science, Book Four
Nov. 16	NIETZSCHE: The Gay Science, Book Five
Nov. 18	On the Genealogy of Morals, Essay I
Nov. 23	NIETZSCHE: On the Genealogy of Morals, Essay II
Nov. 25-28 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov. 30	NIETZSCHE: On the Genealogy of Morals, Essay III
Dec. 2	Student Presentations
Dec. 7 & 9	Student Presentations
Dec. 13 FINAL PAPER DUE