126-486 A Cultural History of German Thought

This subject is taught in German. Formerly available as 126-077. Students who have completed 126-077 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

37.5 points of second/third-year subjects in German language. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject, taught in German, explores some prominent themes in the development of German thought from the late 18th century to the present. Its starts with the great Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant. Students will then consider a number of important German thinkers and schools. These include the early 19th century philosophers Schelling and the brothers Schlegel, the revolutionary thought of Karl Marx, the emancipatory philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, the sceptical-critical philosophy of the Frankfurt School and the contemporary philosopher Jürgen Habermas. Students should complete the subject with knowledge of the German rationalist and romantic traditions; an understanding of the impact ideas have on a culture and a society; and a capacity to reason and engage in debate at a superior level of the German language.

• have acquired skills in research, critical thinking and contextualizing information;

• also have developed skills in communicating knowledge intelligibly through oral presentations and essays in German.

A 1000 word class paper during semester (3rd year) and a 1200 word class paper (during semester) (4th year) 30%, and an essay of 3000 words (end of semester) (3rd year) 4000 words (end of semester) (4th year) 70%.

• Bahr, E (ed.), Was ist Aufklärung? Thesen und Definitionen. Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam, Universal-Bibliothek 9714.
• Freud, Sigmund, Abrià der Psychoanalyse. Das Unbehagen in der Kultur. Frankfurt/Main: Fischer Taschenbuchverlag 6043.
• Habermas, Jürgen, Die Moderne - ein unvollendetes Projekt. Philosophisch-politische Aufsätze. Leipzig: Philipp Reclam, Reclam-Bibliothek 1382.
• Horkheimer, Max & Adorno, Theodor, W, Dialektik der Aufklärung. Philosophische Fragmente. Frankfurt/Main: Fischer Taschenbuchverlag 6144.
• Schmitt, Hans-Jurgen, Die deutsche Literatur in Text und Darstellung. Romantik I. Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam, Universal-Bibliothek 9629.