Earlham College, Fall Semester 2003-2004
Tuesday, Friday 1:00-2:20 Carpenter 323
Instructor: Ferit Güven
Office: Carpenter 328
Office Hours: Monday 1:00-2:00, Wednesday 2:30-3:30, and by appointment
Office Phone: 983-1399 (voice mail),
e-mail: guvenfe@earlham.edu
 

Course Description: In this course we will approach 19th century philosophy from two broad perspectives.  First, we will analyze 19th Century philosophy as a continuation of Kant's critical philosophy.  Second, we will interpret 19th century philosophy as a reaction to Hegel's system in particular.  The former aspect of 19th Century Philosophy is associated with German Idealism.  German Idealism tries to achieve a coherent philosophical system, the possibility of which was raised in Kant's philosophy.  The other important characteristic of German Idealism is the attempt to conceptualize a post-Kantian version of idealism.  We will start our readings with selections from Fichte's Wissenschaftslehre and Schelling's System of Transcendental Idealism.  Next, we will read Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, possibly the most crucial work of German Idealism, which attempts to solve the problem of modern epistemology as well as the dichotomy between idealism and realism.  Hegel  rejects earlier attempts to reach a system through immediacy and articulates his version of the system through the dialectical movement of spirit. The second aspect of 19th Century philosophy can be understood as reactions (both positive and negative) to Hegel's system. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Marx represent different ways of responding to Hegel's idea of system and his idealism.  In the context we will read selected passages from Marx's Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, Kierkegaard's  Sickness Unto Death, and Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Reading Assignments: (available in the Earlham College bookstore)
Hegel, G.W.F. Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A.V.Miller, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977).
Marx, Karl. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, trans. Martin Milligan, (New York: Prometheus Book, 1988).
Kierkegaard, Søren. Sickness Unto Death, trans. Howard and Edna Hong, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980).
Nietzsche, Friedrich. Thus Spoke Zarathustra, trans. Walter Kaufmann, (New York: Penguin Books, 1978).

In addition to these texts, there will be selections from Fichte's Wissenschaftslehre and Schelling's System of Transcendental Idealism in photocopy form and will be placed on reserve at the Lilly Library.

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 two short papers (5-8 pages) and one long paper (10-12 pages). The short papers will be mainly explanation or exegesis of the text. I will provide topics for each of these assignments. One of these will be on Fichte/Schelling and the other on Hegel.  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 that will be provided.

Each student will prepare one presentation. These presentations will consists of two parts. The first part will be a 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.  The protocol will serve as a cumulative record of the course. In addition to reviewing the material covered in the previous class, it should include announcements made in class and 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 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 the current 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 discussion at a high level.

Your grade will be calculated according to the following distribution:
Paper 1: 20%
Paper 2: 25%
Final Paper: 30%
Presentation: 15%
Class participation and attendance: 10%
There will be no final examination.

The success of this course depends on your contribution. In order for all of us to have a good course your individual contribution will be necessary. 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 three sessions you will fail this course regardless of your grade.

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 discuss your own ideas.

Our sessions will start at 1:00 pm. Students are expected to come on time. Walking into (and out of) the classroom while the session is in progress is extremely disruptive for everybody.  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 29: Introduction

Week 2:
September 2: Fichte, Wissenschaftslehre
September 5: Fichte, Wissenschaftslehre

Week 3:
September 9: Fichte, Wissenschaftslehre
September 12: Schelling, System of Transcendental Idealism

Week 4:
September 16: Schelling, System of Transcendental Idealism
September 19: Schelling, System of Transcendental Idealism

Week 5:
September 23: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Preface), pp.1-30,  1st Paper due
September 26: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Preface), pp.30-45

Week 6:
September 30: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Introduction), pp. 45-57
October 3: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Consciousness: Sense-certainty), pp. 58-66

Week 7:
October 7: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Consciousness: Perception), pp. 67-79
October 10: Midsemester break 

Week 8:
October 14: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Self-consciousness: Master-Slave Dialectic), pp. 104-119
October 17: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, Review

Week 9:
October 21: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp. 141-168, 2nd Paper due
October 24: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp. 141-168

Week 10:
October 28: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp. 69-84
October 31: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp. 203-243

Week 11:
November 4: Kierkegaard, Sickness Unto Death,
November 7: Kierkegaard, Sickness Unto Death,

Week 12:
November 11: Kierkegaard, Sickness Unto Death,
November 14: Kierkegaard, Sickness Unto Death,

Week 13:
November 18: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra,
November 21: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra,

November 25 - November 28: Thanksgiving Break

Week 14:
December 2: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra,
December 5: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra,

Week 15:
December 9: Review
December 15: Evaluation Final Paper due (@4:15 pm)

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