Earlham College, Fall Semester 2006-2007
Monday, Thursday 2:30-3:50 Carpenter 321
Instructor: Ferit Güven
Office: Carpenter 328
Office Hours: Monday 11:00-12:00, Wednesday 11:00-12:00
Office Phone: 983-1399
e-mail: guvenfe@earlham.edu
web page: http://www.earlham.edu/~guvenfe
 

Course Description: This course will be a survey of 19th century continental philosophy.  We will analyze 19th Century philosophy as a continuation of Kant's critical philosophy.  Initially we will concentrate on the questions of system, idealism and freeedom. We will start our readings with Schelling's Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom.  Schelling tries to conceptualize a post-Kantian idealism and investigate the role of freedom in the system of idealism within the paradigm of subjectivity. 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 part of the course will concentrate on reactions (both positive and negative) to Hegel's system. Marx, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche respond 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 Fear and Trembling, and Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals.

Required Texts: (available in the Earlham College bookstore)
Schelling, F.W.J. Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom and Related Matters, trans. P. Hayden-Roy, Philosophy of German Idealism, ed. E. Behler, (New York: Continuum, 1987).
ISBN: 0826403077
Hegel, G.W.F. Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A.V. Miller (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977).
ISBN: 0-19-824597-1
Marx, Karl. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, trans. Martin Milligan, (New York: Prometheus Book, 1988).
ISBN: 0-87975-446-X
Kierkegaard, Søren. Fear and Trembling, trans. Alastair Hannay (London: Penguin Books, 2006).
ISBN: 0143037579
Nietzsche, Friedrich. On The Genealogy of Morals, trans. W. Kaufman, (New York: Vintage Books, 1989).
ISBN: 0679724621

This course is mainly oriented toward close reading 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 papers will be on 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 a protocol. A protocol is a carefully edited summary/notes of the previous two class sessions 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 week 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.

Your grade will be calculated according to the following distribution:
Paper 1: 20%; Paper 2: 25%; Final Paper: 30%; Protocol: 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 2:30 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 24:  Introduction to the course

Week 2:
August 28: Schelling, Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
August 31: Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom


Week 3:
September 4: Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
September 7:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom

Week 4:
September 11:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
September 14:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom

Week 5:
September 18:  Hegel,  Phenomenology of Spirit, 1st paper due
September 21: Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 6:
September 25:  Phenomenology of Spirit
September 28:  Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 7:
October 2: Phenomenology of Spirit
October 5: Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 9:
October 16:  Phenomenology of Spirit, Review
October 19:  Midsemester Break

Week 10:
October 23:  Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, 2nd paper due
October 26: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts

Week 11:
October 30:  Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts
November 2: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts

November 20-November 23:  Fall Break 

Week 14:
November 27: Nietzsche, On The Genealogy of Morals
November 30: On The Genealogy of Morals

Week 15:
December 4: On The Genealogy of Morals
December 7: Review and Evaluation:

December 11: Final Paper due (@5:00 pm)