Earlham College, Fall Semester 2001-2002
Tuesday, Friday 1:00-2:20. Carpenter 323
Instructor: Ferit Güven
Office: Carpenter 328
Office Hours: Monday 10-11, Tuesday 2:30-3:30, Friday 2:30-3:30, and by appointment
Office Phone: 983-1399 (voice mail),
e-mail: guvenfe@earlham.edu

"Freedom, however, among all the Ideas of speculative reason is the only one whose possibility we know a priori. We do not understand it, but we know it as the condition of the moral law which we do know."
Kant, Critique of Practical Reason

Course Description: The aim of this course is to analyze 19th century philosophy as the culmination of modernity. One of the most significant traits of modern philosophy is the rise of subjectivity and its relation to the question of freedom. Therefore, even though this course is intended to be survey of 19th century philosophy, we will initially concentrate on the theme of freedom in order to provide a focus for our readings. We will trace important transformations in the philosophical concept of freedom in 19th century European philosophy, particularly the move from freedom understood as the exercise of a faculty (free will) to freedom defined in the context of an ontology grounded in the subject. We will start with a brief discussion of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason and Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. Some of you may have already read these works, or already be familiar with Kant's philosophy in general. We will use these text to introduce the problem of freedom in Kant and German Idealism. We will articulate the relation between Kant's theoretical and practical philosophy in light of the notion of freedom. Far from being an exclusively practical question, the notion of freedom has significant implications for theoretical philosophy.  After this brief discussion we will read Friedrich Schelling's Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom and Matters Connected Therewith. This text (commonly referred to as "The Essence of Human Freedom" or the "Freedom Essay") tries to synthesize the problems associated with freedom in Medieval thought with the insights of Kant's critical philosophy.  With Schelling the question of freedom becomes the most fundamental problem of philosophy.  Schelling uses the notion of freedom in order to synthesize realism with idealism.  Through this text we will see the connection between the notion of freedom and an important trait of German Idealism, namely the desire to reach a system. In this context we will read Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit.  At this point the focus of the course will go beyond the question of freedom.  Hegel's philosophy  represents the attempt to articulate the possibility and structure of a system. The Phenomenology of Spirit is one of the most important works of German Idealism which attempts to solve the problem of modern epistemology, as well as, the dichotomy between idealism and realism.  In the second part of this course we will study reactions to Hegel's system. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Marx represent different ways of responding to Hegel's idea of system and his idealism.  We will read Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments, Nietzsche's second Untimely Meditation: On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, and selected passages from Marx's German Ideology,and Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts.
 
 

Reading Assignments: (available in the Earlham College bookstore)
Schelling, F.W.J. Philosophical Inquiries into the Nature of Human Freedom, trans. James Gutmann, (La Salle: Open Court, 1936).
Hegel, G.W.F. Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A.V.Miller, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977).
Kierkegaard, Søren. Philosophical Fragments, trans. Howard and Edna Hong, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1985).
Nietzsche, Friedrich. On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, trans. Peter Preuss, (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1980).
Marx, Karl. Selected Writings, trans. Lawrencew H. Simon, (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1994)

This course is mainly oriented toward close readings and discussion of primary texts. I expect you to read every text assigned for the week at least twice. Some of the passages we will read are very difficult. Instead of getting discouraged, try to formulate your difficulties in order to be able to discuss them during class sessions.

Requirements and Evaluation: You are expected to write three short papers (4-6 pages) and one long paper (10-12 pages). The short papers will be mainly "explications de texte" (explanation or exegesis of the text). I will provide topics for each assignment. These papers will be on 1. Schelling,  2. Hegel, 3. Kierkegaard/Nietzsche/Marx . For the last paper you are encouraged to decide on your own topic/question. This paper should have a broad perspective incorporating major themes and ideas we discuss during the semester. It may compare and contrast two or more thinkers, but I would prefer that you do this on a specific topic.

For every paper (including papers on topics of your own choice) you are responsible for following the general guidelines provided. (See "Comments and Suggestions for Papers").

Each student will prepare one "presentation." These presentations will consists of two parts. The first part will be a kind of "protocol." A protocol is a carefully edited summary/notes of the previous class session written in full sentences. Protocols will be 2 single spaced pages and will be photocopied by the student who wrote it and handed out to all students at the beginning of each class to be read aloud, and will serve as a cumulative record of the course. In addition to reviewing the material covered in the previous class, the protocol should include announcements made in class, questions not addressed in class. The best protocols will be those that do not simply reproduce word for word everything that was said during class, but those that rearrange the material thematically, editing out what was unimportant, and emphasizing what was significant. One of the advantages of the protocols is to allow you to think during class, and not just take notes; because someone will be taking notes for you, you can concentrate on the ideas being presented, and participate without having to write constantly. Also you will have a summary of every class which will help you with writing papers.

The second part of your presentation will introduce us to the new reading for the day. The most important dimension of this part of your presentation is to articulate the connections between the material we covered in the previous class and readings we will cover in that session. This presentation will include a brief summary of the readings assigned for the day, and raise questions concerning this material. I do not expect you to cover everything in the reading for the day. These presentations are designed to initiate and maintain class discussions at a high level.

Your grade will be calculated according to the following distribution:
Paper 1: 15%
Paper 2: 20%
Paper 3: 15%
Final Paper: 25%
Presentation 1: 15%
Class participation and attendance: 10%

There will be no final examination. Indeed, there will be no exams in this course. However, in order to make sure that we are doing the reading, I may give in class quizzes. The success of this course is dependent upon your contribution. In order for all of us to have a successful course your individual contribution will be needed. Given the size of the class, missing a session will be very disruptive for all of us. Consequently, you should feel a responsibility not only to me and to yourself (for the sake of your grade), but also to your friends in this course. I am not inclined to legislate strict attendance policies, with the conviction that you will be mature enough to attend all classes. However, if you miss more than four sessions you will fail this course.

Office hours are for students to discuss ideas, assignments and questions. You are encouraged and welcome to come by my office or make appointments for times other than scheduled office hours. You should take advantage of office hours and appointments not simply to discuss your papers (you are obviously welcome to do that too) but also to understand ideas, and texts discussed in class, or simply to discuss your ideas.

Our sessions will start at 1:00 pm. Students are expected to come on time. Walking into the classroom while the session is in progress is extremely disruptive for everybody; so is walking out during the session. I ask you not to do these.

Calendar: There may be some modifications to this calendar. It is your responsibility to be aware of these changes. These changes will be announced in class. If you miss a class you should make sure that you are informed about the assignments for the next session.

Week 1:
August 31: Introduction, Kant and The Question of Freedom
Week 2:
September 4: Kant, and Introduction to Schelling
September 7:  Schelling, 336-357
Week 3:
September 11: Schelling, 357-373
September 14: Schelling, 373-394
Week 4:
September 18: Schelling, 394-416
Spetember 21: Schelling discussion,  1st Paper (on Schelling) Due
Week 5:
September 25: Hegel, Introduction, Phenomenology, 1-45
September 28: Hegel, Phenomenology
Week 6:
October 2: Hegel, Phenomenology,1-57
October 5: Hegel, Phenomenology
Week 7:
October 9:  Hegel, Phenomenology, 58-79
October 12:Hegel, Phenomenology
Week 8:
October 16: Hegel, Phenomenology, 104-119
October 19: Midsemester Break
Week 9:
October 23: Hegel, Phenomenology,  119-138
October 26: Hegel, Phenomenology
Week 10:
October 30: Hegel, Phenomenology,  463-493
November 2: Hegel discussion,    2nd Paper (on Hegel) Due
Week 11:
November 6: Marx, pp.56-79
November 9: Marx, pp.79-97
Week 12:
November 13: Marx, pp.157-186
November 16: Marx discussion
Thanksgiving Break
Week 13:
November 27: Kierkegaard, 5-36
November 30: Kierkegaard, 36-71
Week 14:
December 4: Kierkegaard, 72-88
December 7: Kierkegaard, 89-111
Week 15:
December 11: Nietzsche, On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, §1- 7, pp.7-38
December 14: Nietzsche, On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, §7-10,pp. 38-64,
3rd Paper (on Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche) Due

December 21: Final Paper Due

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