Earlham College, Fall Semester 2007-2008
Monday, Thursday 1:00-2:20; Carpenter 323
Instructor: Ferit Güven
Office: Carpenter 328
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Phone: 983-1399
e-mail: guvenfe@earlham.edu
web page: http://www.earlham.edu/~guvenfe
Moodle page: https://moodle.earlham.edu/course/view.php?id=231

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 investigates 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 Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Required Texts: (available in the Earlham College bookstore)
Schelling, F.W.J. Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom, trans. Jeffrey Love and Johannes Schmidt, (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2007). ISBN: 0791468747
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. Thus Spoke Zarathustra, trans. Walter Kaufmann, (New York: Penguin Books, 1978). ISBN: 0140047484

This course is mainly oriented toward close reading and discussion of texts. I expect you to read every text assigned for the week at least twice. Some of the passages we will read are 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 provided. See "Comments and Suggestions for Papers"

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 four sessions you will fail this course regardless of your grade.

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 23:  Introduction to the course

Week 2:
August 27: Schelling, Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
August 30: Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom

Week 3:
September 3: Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
September 6:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom

Week 4:
September 10:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom
September 13:  Philosophical Investigations into the Essence of Human Freedom

Week 5:
September 17:  Hegel,  Phenomenology of Spirit, 1st paper due
September 20: Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 6:
September 24:  Phenomenology of Spirit
September 27:  Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 7:
October 1: Phenomenology of Spirit
October 4: Phenomenology of Spirit

Week 8:
October 8:  Phenomenology of Spirit
October 11: Midsemester Break

Week 9:
October 15:  Phenomenology of Spirit
October 18: Phenomenology of Spirit, Review

Week 10:
October 22:  Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, 2nd paper due
October 25: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts

Week 11:
October 29:  Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts
November 1: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts

November 19-November 23:  Fall Break 

Week 14:
November 26: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
November 29: Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Week 15:
December 3: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
December 6: Review and Evaluation:
December 14: Final Paper due (@5:00 pm)

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