Earlham College, Fall Semester 2002-2003
Tuesday, Friday 2:30-3:50 Carpenter 323
Instructor: Ferit Güven
Office: Carpenter 331
Office Hours: Monday 3:00-4:00, Wednesday 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. After a brief discussion of Kant's philosophy, we will start with 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 connect the problems associated with freedom in Medieval thought with the insights of Kant's critical philosophy.  For Schelling the possibility and reality of freedom is crucial to synthesize realism with idealism.  Through this text we will see the connection between the notion of freedom and perhaps the most important theme common to all 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 shift from the question of freedom to the possibility of system, even though these two issues are closely connected.  Hegel's philosophy is an attempt to articulate the possibility and structure of a system. The Phenomenology of Spirit is a crucial work 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 The Birth of Tragedy, and selected passages from Marx's Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts.

Reading Assignments: (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).
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. Philosophical Fragments, trans. Howard and Edna Hong, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1985).
Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Birth of Tragedy, trans. Raymond Geuss and Ronald Speirs, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999).

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. These papers will be on Schelling and 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.

Each student will prepare two "presentations." 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: 15%
Paper 2: 20%
Final Paper: 25%
Presentation 1: 15%
Presentation 2: 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 30: Introduction

Week 2:
September 3: Schelling, The Essence of Human Freedom, (336-357), pp.219-236
September 6: Schelling, The Essence of Human Freedom, (357-373), pp.236-249

Week 3:
September 10: Schelling, The Essence of Human Freedom, (373-394), pp.249-266
September 13: Schelling, The Essence of Human Freedom, (394-416), pp.266-284

Week 4:
September 17: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Preface), pp.1-15,  1st Paper due
September 20: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Preface), pp. 15-30

Week 5:
September 24: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Preface), pp.30-45
September 27: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Introduction), pp. 45-57

Week 6:
October 1: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Consciousness: Sense-certainty), pp.58-66
October 4: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Consciousness: Perception), pp.67-79

Week 7:
October 8: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Self-consciousness: Master-Slave Dialectic), pp.104-119
October 11: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Freedom of self-consciousness), pp.119-138

Week 8:
October 15: Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, (Absolute Knowing), pp.479-493
October 18 Midsemester break

Week 9:
October 22: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp.141-168, 2nd Paper due
October 25: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp.141-168

Week 10:
October 29: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp.69-84
November 1: Marx, Economic Philosophic Manuscripts, pp.203-243

Week 11:
November 5: Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, pp.5-36
November 8: Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, pp.36-71

Week 12:
November 12: Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, pp.72-88
November 15: Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, pp.89-111

Week 13:
November 19: Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, pp.1-36
November 22: Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, pp.36-67

November 26 - November 29: Thanksgiving Break

Week 14:
December 3: Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, pp.67-95
December 6: Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, pp.95-116

Week 15:
December 10: Review

December 16: Final Paper due (@4:15 pm)

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