GERMAN SOCIAL THEORY:
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KENYON COLLEGE
TRELEAVEN HOUSE
SPRING 2014
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
This seminar involves a critical examination of the evolution of German social theory in the twentieth century. Following a summary of the major tendencies and questions in social theory during the Weimar period, the course will consider the extent to which contemporary phenomenological, existential, hermeneutical, marxian, and neo-classical theory reflects or transcends its intellectual and political heritage. Readings will include the works of Cassirer, Dilthey, Schutz, Heidegger, Habermas, Gadamer, Arendt, and Jonas.
REQUIRED READINGS
F. Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy
T. Adorno, ed. The Positivist Dispute in German Sociology
S. Freud, Introduction to Psychoanalysis
M. Horkheimer, Eclipse of Reason
E. Fromm, Escape From Freedom
H. Gadamer, "The Problem of Historical Consciousness," in Interpretive
Social Science: A Reader, ed. by P. Rabinow and W. Sullivan
H. Gadamer, "The Historicity of Understanding," in Critical Sociology,
ed. by Paul Connerton (On reserve)
J. Habermas, "A Review of Gadamer's Truth and Method," in
Understanding and Social Inquiry, ed. by F. Dallmayr and T. McCarthy
J. Habermas, Toward a Rational Society
RECOMMENDED READING
R. Bernstein, Beyond Objectivism and Relativism
D. Held, Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas
M. Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History of the Frankfurt School and the Institute of Social Research, 1923-1950
G. McCarthy, Romancing Antiquity: German Critique of the Enlightenment from Weber to Habermas
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
It is crucial, if this course is to be successful, that everyone participates in the general discussion. The final grade will be based on 1/3 class participation, 1/3 class presentation, and 1/3 research paper related to any theme in twentieth-century German social and political theory.
OVERVIEW OF SCHEDULE AND REQUIRED READINGS
Methodological Debates in Economics and Sociology in 19th and 20 Centuries: WEEK
1. | Introduction | Introduction and Overview of the Course |
2. | Sigmund Freud | Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, chapters/lectures 6-14 and 16-19, pp. 100-229 and 257-302 |
3. | Friedrich Nietzsche | The Birth of Tragedy, pp. 1-69 |
4. | Friedrich Nietzsche | The Birth of Tragedy, pp. 69-146 |
5. | Max Horkheimer | Eclipse of Reason, pp. 3-91 |
6. | Max Horkheimer | Eclipse of Reason, pp. 92-187 |
7. | Karl Popper | "The Logic of the Social Sciences," in The
Positivist Dispute in German Sociology, pp. 87-104 |
Theodore Adorno | "Sociology and Empirical Research," in The Positivist Dispute in German Sociology, pp. 68-86 | |
8. | Erich Fromm | Escape from Freedom |
9. | Hannah Arendt | On Revolution |
10 | Hans-Georg Gadamer | "The Problem of Historical Consciousness," in Interpretive
Social Science, pp. 103-160 |
11. | Hans-Georg Gadamer | "The Historicity of Understanding," in Critical Sociology, pp. 117-133 |
J�rgen Habermas | "A Review of Gadamer's Truth and Method," in Understanding
and Social Inquiry, pp. 335-363 |
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12. | Herbert Marcuse | One-Dimensional Man, pp. 1-120 |
13. | Herbert Marcuse | One-Dimensional Man, pp. 123-257 |
14. | J�rgen Habermas | "Technology and Science as `Ideology,'" in Toward a Rational Society |