Hegel in Latin America. Latin American philosophers in face of modernization 3800-HAL21-K-OG

The main aspect of Latin American philosophy has always been answering two questions: “what is Latin America?” and “does the philosophy of Latin America exist?”. A concrete answer to the first one and a positive answer to the second one resulted in the third, fundamental question: what should Latin American philosophy be like? Focus on those fundamental issues has produced a distinct, interesting style and subject of philosophizing that differs from the European tradition.

Enrique Dussel - one of the most important contemporary Latin American philosophers - understands modernity as a phenomenon closely related to the colonization of Latin America. Going beyond the Eurocentric perspective, he points out that the rejection of Wester European values during the modern era has contributed to the shaping of counter-answer on the South American continent – the Modernity of peripheral countries. The study of the philosophy of this area is, therefore, watching the other face of modernity, which the hegemonic discourse has tried to displace for centuries.

The aim of the course is to present to the students a part of Latin American philosophical thought, which, struggling with modernity and modernization, tries to constitute Latin American identity, find a place for its own community in the historical process and understand the meaning of its own original philosophy. The Hegelian perspective taken from "Lectures on the Philosophy of History" and "Lectures on the History of Philosophy" will be used as basis that will allow to establish a possible place of Latin America in History and a basis for reflection on national (regional) philosophies. Next, we will explore the interpretation that peripheral, colonized areas are the accrual space in which European philosophy can be present and implemented, then we will devote most of the course to the question of how Latin American philosophers responded to these interpretations and possibilities.

Thematic blocks:

Introduction:
- G. W. F. Hegel, „Wykłady z filozofii dziejów” (fragments)
- G. W. F. Hegel, „Wykłady z historii filozofii” (fragments)

1. Revolution
- S. Buck-Morss, „Hegel, Haiti i historia uniwersalna”
- S. Bolívar, „List z Jamajki”

2. Race and utopia
- J. Martí, „Nasza Ameryka”
- J. E. Rodó, „Ariel”
- J. Vasconcelos. „The Cosmic Race”
- R. Fernández Retamar, „Kaliban i inne eseje”

3. Philosophy and identity
- S. Bondy, “The Meaning and Problem of Hispanic American Thought”
- L. Zea, “Actual Function of Philosophy in Latin America”
- L. Zea, “Identity: A Latin American Philosophical Problem”
- E. Dussel, “The Invention of the Americas: Eclipse of ‘the Other’ and the Myth of Modernity” (fragments)

The course will take the form of a conversation classes - together with the teacher, students will analyze texts during classes, trying to answer the above-mentioned questions. The assessment criteria will be active participation in the classes and a short essay on the subject consulted with the teacher.

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Student musi znać język angielski w stopniu umożliwiającym swobodną lekturę tekstów. Dodatkowym atutem będzie znajomość języka hiszpańskiego – w takim wypadku student będzie mógł czytać teksty w oryginale (nie jest to jednak warunek konieczny).

Learning outcomes

Acquired knowledge:
- student has knowledge about the history of Latin American philosophy
- student knows and understands selected works of important Latin American philosophers who take up the threads of identity, modernity and metaphilosophical issues
- student knows and understand the basic philosophical categories of Latin American thought
- student has knowledge about the relationship between Latin American philosophy and European one

Acquired skills:
- student knows how to interpret texts belonging to Latin American philosophy in the context of European philosophy
- student knows how to interpret the basic subjects present in Latin American philosophy
- student is able to interpret philosophical texts and express their own opinion about them

Acquired social competence:
- student gains a better understanding of the problem of modernity in context other than Eurocentric
- student gains a better understanding of the complexity of Latin American identity
- student gains a better understanding of philosophical basis for social problems in their global context

Assessment criteria

Assessment criteria:
- preparation and active participation in classes (participation in discussions, interpreting issues, commenting on texts assigned for reading) - 40%
- a short essay on a topic consulted with the teacher and concerning the issues discussed during classes - 60%

Bibliography

Bolívar S., List z Jamajki, CESLA, Warszawa 1990.
Buck-Morss S., Hegel, Haiti i historia uniwersalna, Wydawnictwo Krytyki Politycznej, Warszawa 2014.
Dussel E., The Invention of the Americas: Eclipse of ‘the Other’ and the Myth of Modernity, Continuum, New York 1995.
Fernández Retamar R., Kaliban i inne eseje, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków-Wrocław 1983.
Hegel G. W. F., Wykłady z filozofii dziejów. T. 1. i 2., PWN, Warszawa 1958.
Hegel G. W. F., Wykłady z historii filozofii, T. 1., 2. i 3., PWN, Warszawa 2013.
Martí J., Nasza Ameryka, CESLA, Warszawa 1992.
Rodó J. E., Ariel, University of Texas Press, Austin 1989.
Salazar Bondy A., “The Meaning and Problem of Hispanic American Thought.” [w:] Latin Philosophy for the 21st Century, (ed.) J. J. E. Gracia, E. Millán-Zaibert, 379-398. Amherst NY, Prometheus Books 2004.
Vasconceslo J., The Cosmic Race, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London 1997.
Zea L., “Actual Function of Philosophy in Latin America” [w:] Latin Philosophy for the 21st Century, (ed.) J. J. E. Gracia, E. Millán-Zaibert, 357-368. Amherst NY, Prometheus Books 2004.
Zea L., “Identity: A Latin American Philosophical Problem” [w:] Latin Philosophy for the 21st Century, (ed.) J. J. E. Gracia, E. Millán-Zaibert, 368-378. Amherst NY, Prometheus Books 2004.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3800-HAL21-K-OG in USOSweb