Contemporary Continental Philosophy 3501-DAO3RF

The idea of the lecture is to present a “map” of contemporary continental thought, a map of its most important problems, marking different perspectives and “styles” of philosophical reflection in XXth century. According to these problems seven basic “blocks” may be distinguished:
- Nietzschean
- phenomenological (Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, but also - in a negative way - Lévinas, Derrida, Deleuze, structuralism and poststructuralism)
- hermeneutical (Gadamer, Ricoeur)
- existential (Sartre)
- psychoanalytical (from Freud to Lacan, but also various critiques of psychoanalysis)
- social-critical (from Marx, Lukács and the school of Frankfort to Foucault; three waves of feminism; liberalism/communitarianism controversy)
- postmodern (Lyotard, Rorty, Bauman)
The tutorial is devoted to discussing most important texts belonging to the contemporary continental philosophic tradition. It focuses on the following currents and problems, divided in 6 basic blocs: Nietzschean, phenomenological (including the critique of phenomenology), existentialist, hermeneutical (I sem.), dialogical, psychoanalytical, critical and postmodernist (II sem.)

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Fluent English and exam in Modern Philosophy

Learning outcomes

I Acquired knowledge:
1. Student knows the basic English terminology of contemporary continental philosophy
2. Has knowledge of the thought of the most important non-analytical philosophers, based on the individual reading of their texts in English
3. Has knowledge and deep understanding of relations between the development of contemporary philosophical ideas and changes in culture and society
II Acquired skills
1. Student is able to follow the oral presentation of philosophical ideas and arguments in English
2. Presents the basic thesis of non-analytical philosophy and estimates their relevance
3. Is able to individually interpret philosophical text (in English), comments and confronts thesis from different sources.
III Acquired social competence
1. Student is aware of the limits of his knowledge and skills and understands the need of its constant extending
2. Participates in social and cultural life, is interested in innovative philosophical ideas in their relation with other elements of social and cultural life

Assessment criteria

Students will be assessed on the basis of their participation in discussions. Conditions for obtaining respective grades:
- (3): attendance (in the case of exceeding of the admissible limit of absences, there is a possibility of making up for missed classes during the office hours)
- (3+): attendance and moderate activity
- (4): attendance and frequent activity
- (4+): attendance and frequent activity combined with proficiency in interpreting the discussed texts
- (5): attendance and frequent activity combined with a remarkable proficiency in interpreting the discussed texts as well as with intellectual maturity and independent thinking
At the end of the course student’s performance will be assessed during the oral exam; answering two questions concerning topics presented at the lecture and discussed at the tutorial, students will prove to what extent the learning outcomes described above have been achieved. Conditions for obtaining respective grades:
- (3): correct answer to one question
- (3+): correct and extended answer to one question
- (4): correct answer to both questions
- (4+): correct and extended answer to both questions
- (5): correct and extended answer to both questions
combined with intellectual maturity and independent thinking

Bibliography

Lecture:
1. Routledge History of Philosophy, vol. VIII: Continental Philosophy in the Twentieth Century, ed. Richard Kearney (2003)
2. Blackwell Guide to Continental Philosophy, ed. Robert C. Solomon, David L. Sherman (2003)
Tutorial:
Obligatory (each year)
1. F. Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality (part II)
2. E. Husserl, Cartesian Meditations (Introduction; chap. I, chap. V § 42-45, 49-54,56-58)
3. M. Heidegger, Being and Time (§1-5, 27, 50-53, 74)
4. M. Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception (Intr. IV, Part II, chap. I)
4. Sartre, Being and Nothingness (Introduction VI; part II, chap. 1, §1-2)
5. H.-G. Gadamer, Truth and Method (part II, chap.4.1; part III, chap. 5.1.)
6. M. Heidegger, Letter on Humanism
7. J. Derrida, The Ends of Man
8. E. Levinas, Totality and Infinity (part I, chap. I; part III, chap. II)
9. S. Freud, Civilization and its Discontents (chap. 1-4)
10. G. Deleuze, How Do We Recognize Structuralism?
11. Th. W. Adorno, M. Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (“The Concept of Enlightenment”)
12. M. Foucault, History of Sexuality (vol. 1, chap. IV, V)
13. J. Butler, Gender Trouble (part I)
14. J.-F. Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition (Introduction; chap. I-V)
15. R. Rorty, Contingency, Irony, Solidarity (“Private Irony and Liberal Hope”)
2014/2015:
I sem. (Tomasz Zielke)
1. F. Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality (part II)
2. M. Heidegger, Nietzsche’s Word “God Is Dead”
3. G. Deleuze, Nietzsche and Philosophy (part 5)
4. E. Husserl, Cartesian Meditations (Intr.; chap. I, chap. V § 42-45, 49-54,56-58)
5. M. Heidegger, Being and Time (§1-5, 27, 50-53, 74)
6. M. Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception (Intr. IV, part II, chap. I)
7. J-P. Sartre, Being and Nothingness (Intr. VI; part II, chap. 1, §1-2)
8. H.-G. Gadamer, Truth and Method (part II, chap.4.1; part III, chap. 5.1.)
9. M. Heidegger, Letter on Humanism
10. J. Derrida, The Ends of Man
11. H. Bergson, Matter and Memory (Intr.; chap. 1)
12. G. Deleuze, How Do We Recognize Structuralism?
13. G. Harman, The Road to Objects
II sem. (Olga Bialer)
1. M. Buber, I and Thou (part I)
2. E. Levinas, Totality and Infinity (chap.: "Metaphysics and Transcendence", "Ethics and The Face")
3. S. Freud, Civilization and its Discontents (chap. 1-4)
4. H. Marcuse, Eros and Civilization (chap. "The Hidden Trend in Psychoanalysis", "The Dialectic of Civilization")
5. T.W. Adorno, M. Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (chap.: "The Concept of Enlightenment")
6. M. Foucault, History of Sexuality (vol. 1, chap. IV, V)
7. M. Foucault, Discipline and Punish [(chap. 1 (Part I.), chap. 2 (Part I.), chap. 2 (Part III) (The examination); chap. 3. (Part III)]
8. G. Agamben, Homo Sacer (part II, chap.1-3, part III, chap. 1-3)
9. R. Barthes, Mythologies (“Wine and Milk”, “Soap-powders and Detergents”,
“Photography and Electoral Appeal”)
10. S. de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (Introduction, chap. 1, Conclusion)
11. J. Buthler, Gender Trouble (part I)
12. J.-F. Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition (Introduction, chap.1-5)
13. R. Rorty, Contingency, Irony, Solidarity (“Private Irony and Liberal Hope”)
14. G. Vattimo, The End of Modernity (pp. 15-25, 103-118)
15.Z. Bauman, Postmodern Ethics (“An Overview: In the End is the Beginning”)