5.00 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Maesschalck Marc; Schmutz Jacob;
Language
French
Prerequisites
The course assumes a basic background in the history of philosophy, especially ancient and medieval.
Ability to read texts in French and English.
Ability to read texts in French and English.
Main themes
The History of Modern Philosophy course will seek to deepen the knowledge of one or more authors or currents of the period concerned, starting from a given theme or corpus.
The course will pay particular attention to understanding the reasons why European philosophers have called themselves "modern" since the 16th century, and will question this claim to novelty both in relation to past European philosophical systems and to non-European cultures in this period of "great discoveries" and nascent globalisation.
The course will pay particular attention to the genesis of the chosen topic and, based on an updated state of research, will attempt to shed light on this topic and to advance the questions related to it.
The historical scope of the course is from the 16th to the early 19th century and may include both canonical authors and representatives of an alternative canon, focusing on traditions neglected by mainstream historiography: scholastic traditions, regional traditions, the contribution of women to modern philosophy, or problems specific to interculturality (e.g., the dialogue initiated with non-European traditions in modernity, Chinese philosophy in particular).
The systematic field will not be restrictive, since the course may focus simultaneously or alternatively on problems of theoretical philosophy or practical philosophy. Particular attention will be paid to research tools and translation issues.
The course will pay particular attention to understanding the reasons why European philosophers have called themselves "modern" since the 16th century, and will question this claim to novelty both in relation to past European philosophical systems and to non-European cultures in this period of "great discoveries" and nascent globalisation.
The course will pay particular attention to the genesis of the chosen topic and, based on an updated state of research, will attempt to shed light on this topic and to advance the questions related to it.
The historical scope of the course is from the 16th to the early 19th century and may include both canonical authors and representatives of an alternative canon, focusing on traditions neglected by mainstream historiography: scholastic traditions, regional traditions, the contribution of women to modern philosophy, or problems specific to interculturality (e.g., the dialogue initiated with non-European traditions in modernity, Chinese philosophy in particular).
The systematic field will not be restrictive, since the course may focus simultaneously or alternatively on problems of theoretical philosophy or practical philosophy. Particular attention will be paid to research tools and translation issues.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | read, understand and comment on texts from the relevant period; |
| 2 | Identify the historical textual sources of a specific philosophical problem and understand the questions of filiation between authors; |
| 3 | evaluate the relevance of a historical argument for our thinking today; |
| 4 | critically and reflexively question the constitution of the great historical canons such as ‘rationalism’, ‘empiricism’, ‘Philosophy of the Enlightment’, ‘German idealism’, etc. |
| 5 | use specific research tools for modern philosophy: dictionaries, lexicons, directories, main journals; |
| 6 | be attentive to the problems posed by the translation of modern philosophical texts; |
| 7 | write well-structured papers with well-defined themes, in preparation for the dissertation. |
Content
Ontology and anthropology in German Idealism. Schelling, Hegel, Hölderlin.
Instead of exploring the points of contrast between the idealist philosophers, the goal of this class is to grasp their shared starting point by studying some of their early works, namely the text from the Athaeneum, often referred to as the Systemprogramm. The aim is to understand how this shared desire to take part in not just scientific culture but also in the fields of politics and religion shaped the growing momentum of a new philosophical generation. This intellectual movement shared with the romantic and the transcendental school the idea that a critical point had been reached in the development of knowledge, political institutions and ethical concerns. The texts studied will allow us to analyze the repercussions of this insight on the transversal search for a new ontology of the common following the developments of each major author.
Instead of exploring the points of contrast between the idealist philosophers, the goal of this class is to grasp their shared starting point by studying some of their early works, namely the text from the Athaeneum, often referred to as the Systemprogramm. The aim is to understand how this shared desire to take part in not just scientific culture but also in the fields of politics and religion shaped the growing momentum of a new philosophical generation. This intellectual movement shared with the romantic and the transcendental school the idea that a critical point had been reached in the development of knowledge, political institutions and ethical concerns. The texts studied will allow us to analyze the repercussions of this insight on the transversal search for a new ontology of the common following the developments of each major author.
Evaluation methods
Students will be asked to write a 10 page on the basis of an author or a subject studied in the course. After emailing the paper, the student will receive a question on the paper to be prepared for the oral exam.
The student will have approximately 15 min. to present this answer during the oral exam.
The paper may be written in French, English, or Spanish or German, with the professor's agreement.
Students are invited to discuss with the professor the subject on which they would like to write their paper.
The student will have approximately 15 min. to present this answer during the oral exam.
The paper may be written in French, English, or Spanish or German, with the professor's agreement.
Students are invited to discuss with the professor the subject on which they would like to write their paper.
Bibliography
Bibilographie
Fichte J. G., Le caractère du temps présent, Vrin, Paris.
Gérard G., Hegel ou la quête de l'efficience de la pensée. Première partie: les années de formation (1770-1807), Peteers, Louvain-la-Neuve, 2020.
HEGEL, G. W. F., Phénoménologie de l’esprit [1807], trad. par Jean Hyppolite. Paris, Aubier, 1941 (2 tomes).
MAESSCHALCK M., Penser la religion, De Fichte et Schelling à Agamben, PIE Peter Lang, Bruxelles/Bern/Berlin/New York/Oxford/Wien, 2022.
SCHELLING, F. W. J., Recherches philosophiques sur l’essence de la liberté humaine in Schelling, F. W. J., Oeuvres Métaphysiques. Paris, Gallimard, 1980.
Bibliographie secondaire recommandée (sélection) :
BALIBAR E., Citoyen Sujet et autres essais d'anthropologie philosophique, PUF, Paris, 2011. (Chap. IV De la certitude sensible à la loi du genre:Hegel, Benveniste, Derrida).
Fischbach F., Fichte et Hegel, la reconnaissance (1. éd), P. U. F., Paris, 1999.
GABRIEL M., Transcendental Ontology. Essays in German Idealism. Continuum, Londres, 2011.
Gourdain S., Sortir du transcendantal, Heidegger et sa lecture de Schelling, Ousia, Bruxelles, 2018.
HYPPOLITE J., Logique et Existence. Paris, PUF, 1952 (Chap.I L'ineffable).
Labarrière P-J, Structures et mouvement dialectique dans la "Phénoménologie de l'esprit" de Hegel, Aubier, Paris, 1992.
LEBRUN, G., La Patience du Concept, Gallimard, Paris, 1972 (Chap. III, Ce vieux mot d’athéisme).
Maesschalck M., « L’engendrement du commencement selon Schelling : signification et enjeux d’une protologie de la conscience », in M. Vetö (dir), Philosophie, théologie, littérature. Hommage à Xavier Tilliette, Peeters, Louvain/Paris, 2011, pp. 293-318.
ROUX A., (dir.), Schelling en 1809, une liberté pour le bien et pour le mal, Vrin, Paris, 2010.
Ruda, F., Hegel’s rabble: an investigation into Hegel’s Philosophy of right, Bloomsbury, Londre, 2013.
SandKühler H.G. (ed.), Handbuch Deutscher Idealismus, Metzler, Stuttgart/Weimar, 2005 (trad. fr. J.-Fr. Kervegan, Manuel de l’idéalisme allemand, Cerf, 2015).
Vaysse J.-M., L'inconscient des Modernes, Gallimard, Paris, 1999.
Žižek S., The Abyss of Freedom, Ages of the World, F.W.J. Schelling, The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1997.
Fichte J. G., Le caractère du temps présent, Vrin, Paris.
Gérard G., Hegel ou la quête de l'efficience de la pensée. Première partie: les années de formation (1770-1807), Peteers, Louvain-la-Neuve, 2020.
HEGEL, G. W. F., Phénoménologie de l’esprit [1807], trad. par Jean Hyppolite. Paris, Aubier, 1941 (2 tomes).
MAESSCHALCK M., Penser la religion, De Fichte et Schelling à Agamben, PIE Peter Lang, Bruxelles/Bern/Berlin/New York/Oxford/Wien, 2022.
SCHELLING, F. W. J., Recherches philosophiques sur l’essence de la liberté humaine in Schelling, F. W. J., Oeuvres Métaphysiques. Paris, Gallimard, 1980.
Bibliographie secondaire recommandée (sélection) :
BALIBAR E., Citoyen Sujet et autres essais d'anthropologie philosophique, PUF, Paris, 2011. (Chap. IV De la certitude sensible à la loi du genre:Hegel, Benveniste, Derrida).
Fischbach F., Fichte et Hegel, la reconnaissance (1. éd), P. U. F., Paris, 1999.
GABRIEL M., Transcendental Ontology. Essays in German Idealism. Continuum, Londres, 2011.
Gourdain S., Sortir du transcendantal, Heidegger et sa lecture de Schelling, Ousia, Bruxelles, 2018.
HYPPOLITE J., Logique et Existence. Paris, PUF, 1952 (Chap.I L'ineffable).
Labarrière P-J, Structures et mouvement dialectique dans la "Phénoménologie de l'esprit" de Hegel, Aubier, Paris, 1992.
LEBRUN, G., La Patience du Concept, Gallimard, Paris, 1972 (Chap. III, Ce vieux mot d’athéisme).
Maesschalck M., « L’engendrement du commencement selon Schelling : signification et enjeux d’une protologie de la conscience », in M. Vetö (dir), Philosophie, théologie, littérature. Hommage à Xavier Tilliette, Peeters, Louvain/Paris, 2011, pp. 293-318.
ROUX A., (dir.), Schelling en 1809, une liberté pour le bien et pour le mal, Vrin, Paris, 2010.
Ruda, F., Hegel’s rabble: an investigation into Hegel’s Philosophy of right, Bloomsbury, Londre, 2013.
SandKühler H.G. (ed.), Handbuch Deutscher Idealismus, Metzler, Stuttgart/Weimar, 2005 (trad. fr. J.-Fr. Kervegan, Manuel de l’idéalisme allemand, Cerf, 2015).
Vaysse J.-M., L'inconscient des Modernes, Gallimard, Paris, 1999.
Žižek S., The Abyss of Freedom, Ages of the World, F.W.J. Schelling, The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1997.
Faculty or entity
EFIL
