Seminar on philosophical texts by modern authors [ LFILO1335 ]

Course on the History of Modern Philosophy.

To introduce the student to the critical reading of the key texts of Modern philosophy.

The student is expected to present a written work of ten pages taking bearing from the reading of proposed commentary in the reading file. He/she should attached, one page of lecture report on the compulsory texts. Having sent this work by mail, the student will in return receive a question on the sent work which he or she has to prepare in readiness for the oral examination.

Presentation of the question during the oral exam takes the duration of fifteen minutes.

The written work can be done in French, English, Spanish, or German, in agreement with the Professor.

The course will focus on the quintuple synthesis of the philosophy of Fichte as it is presented in the text on L´esprit et la lettre en philosophy(Über Geist und Buchstab in der Philosophie) of 1798 and its canonic form in the Answeisung of 1805. This construction of the quintuple synthesis will be analyzed in its theoretical (Wissenschaftslehre) and practical scope (especially, from the point of view of human action in history and the question of genius). The theme of the birth of the Treiblehre as form of psychic causality will be privileged.

Basic Bibliography:

J.G. FICHTE, « L'esprit et la lettre en philosophie », in Essais philosophiques choisis (1794-1795) trad. par  A. Renaut, Vrin, Paris, 1984, pp. 83-109.

J. G. FICHTE, « Ueber geist und buchstab in der philosophie. In einer reihe von Briefen », in Philosophisches Journal, Bd. IX, H. n°4, 1798 (1800), édition critique: GA, 1, 6, pp. 333-361.  

C. AMADIO, Fichte e la dimensione estetica della politica, Apartire da « Sullo spiriti e la lettera nella filosofia », Guerini, Milano, 1994.

E. BRITO, J.G. Fichte et la transformation du christianisme, Peeters, Leuven,  2004 (Chap. IX plus spécialement).

C. CESA, « Sensibilité et conscience, Remarques sur la théorie des Triebe chez Fichte », in Revue germanique internationale, 2002, n° 18, 121'132.

J.-Chr. GODDARD, La philosophie f ichtéenne de la vie : le transcendantal et le pathologique, Paris, Vrin, 1999.

Y.-J. Harder, « De la lettre à l'esprit », in J.-Chr. Goddard (éd.), Fichte, le Moi et la liberté, P.U.F., Paris, 2000, pp. 13-45.

M. MAESSCHAlCK,  « Eshétique et psycho-analyse. La réponse du jeune Fichte à Schiller concernant l'éducation », in La philosophie de Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Revue roumaine de philosophie, 2012, Vol. 56, n° 1, Bucuresti, pp. 5-22.

M. MAESSCHALCK, Religion et identité culturelle chez Fichte, Olms, Hildesheim, 2000.

A. PHILONENKO, L'oeuvre de Fichte, Vrin, Paris, 1984.

J. WIDMANN, Die Grundstruktur des transzendentalen Wissens nach. Joh. Gottl. Fichtes Wissenschaftslehre 1804², Hamburg, 1977.

Compulsory Reading

The reference text of Fichte and a commentary provided in the lecture file

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