Philosophie und Kritik – Philosophical Seminar in German 3800-PK26-S-OG

The method used in the seminar consists of reading together specific passages of texts prepared by the instructor, and then explaining them and subjecting them to philosophical reflection in the form of discussion. The burden is placed on in-depth reading and interpretation of the text: when discussing the read passage, linguistic issues (vocabulary, complex grammatical constructions) are taken into account first, followed by the formulated theses and their possible interpretations.

The presenter also occasionally discusses strategies for interpreting philosophical texts and more complex grammatical and conceptual issues.

The discussion of text excerpts is done in such a way that even the works of authors considered difficult are made accessible to those who are just improving their competence in German or starting to learn about philosophy.

As part of the seminar, visits by guests from German-speaking countries are organized whenever possible, and these guests then co-teach the classes. However, at the time the syllabus is submitted, it is not yet possible to confirm such visits.

Each year the texts are selected around a different general theme.

Term 2026:

Description of class in the 2025/26 cycle:

The central theme around which this year’s readings will revolve is the concept of SOCIETY (GESELLSCHAFT), which is central to the entire tradition of social philosophy. In doing so, we will draw on texts from the tradition of classical German philosophy as well as texts from outside that tradition. We will partially revisit texts and authors discussed in previous years, but focus on different passages.

I encourage to participate all those who have always wanted to read German classics in the original, but felt not yet ready to do so. And also those who have already dared this "transition to the original text", but want to improve in their knowledge of philosophical German.

Literature (we usually devote several meetings to each text, some more sources might also be added):

Immanuel Kant, Idee zu einer allgemeinen Geschichte in weltbürgerlicher Absicht
Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Einige Vorlesungen über die Bestimmung des Gelehrten
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts / Vorlesungen über die Philosophie des Rechts
Karl Marx, Grundrisse der Kritik der politischen Ökonomie or Zur Kritik der politischen Ökonomie
Ferdinand Tönnies, Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft
Max Weber, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft
Gyorgi Lukacs, Geschichte und Klassenbewusstsein
Max Horkheimer, Die gegenwärtige Lage der Sozialphilosophie und die Aufgaben eines Instituts für Sozialforschung
Hannah Arendt, Vita Activa oder vom Tätigen Leben
Jürgen Habermas, Theorie und Praxis

Course coordinators

Michał Dobrzański

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Do uczestnictwa w zajęciach konieczna jest podstawowa znajomość języka niemieckiego i chęć jej pogłębiania!

Learning outcomes

Acquired Knowledge:

Graduates know and understand:
K_W02 to an in-depth degree - research methods and argumentative strategies of the selected philosophical discipline and methods of interpreting a philosophical text
K_W04 special philosophical terminology in a foreign language of choice (at the B2+ level)
K_W05 the main directions of development and the most important new achievements within the selected philosophical discipline

Acquired skills:

Graduates are able to:
K_U01 interpret philosophical texts independently, creatively and innovatively comment on and confront theses from various texts
K_U03 analyze complex philosophical arguments, identify theses and assumptions making them up, determine logical and argumentative relations between theses
K_U12 independently translate a difficult philosophical text from a foreign language into Polish

Acquired social competences:

Graduates are ready to:
K_K01 identify the knowledge and skills they possess
K_K02 identify deficiencies in his/her knowledge and skills and search for opportunities to remedy them

Assessment criteria

Credit on the basis of the student’s own translation of a German-language text (one of the texts discussed during the course or a text chosen in consultation with the lecturer) [PPT] or on the basis of a short essay written in German on one of the subjects discussed during the course [E]. The translation should be done by the student personally and single-handed, and it should show the student’s knowledge of German philosophical notions. The essay should show the student’s knowledge of German philosophical notions, of one of the philosophical traditions developed in the German-language area and it should include the author’s own position towards the described issue. The lecturer takes into consideration active participation of the student during the. [A]

Number of absences: 2

Bibliography

Provided in the description of the cycle.

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: