Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: Humanities Division

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 3

Description: REASON AND SOCIETY: ENGLIGHTENMENT FROM KANT TO HABERMAS (FRESHMAN SEMINAR) ***** An introduction to one of the most important German and European ideas that has shaped the emergence of modern society at large: the "Enlightenment". In contrast to standard periodizations, the Enlightenment will not be restricted to a particular philosophical, or social, movement in the eighteenth century, but it will be presented as an ongoing process of modernizaiton, including its drawbacks, disasters and subversions. Although we will consider the Enlightenment with regard to its histoircal context, we will also ask wheter its fundamental ideas- reason, morla law, civil rights, cosmopolitanism, humanity, justive, secularization, emancipation- have a place in our own society, and whether the German Enlightenment has a future. No prior knowledge necessary. Taught in English. ***** Also offered as GERM 124. ***** Enrollment limited to 15.