General information
Instructors
Here is more information about Prof. Lotz – Here is more information about Prof. Hedrick
Class Meetings
Days: T
Time: 7 PM – 10 PM
Place: 530 South Kedzie
Office
Phone: 517.355.4490 [dept.])
Place: 518 + 519 S. Kedzie Hall
Hours: by appointment
Other Contact
E-mail: lotz@msu.edu / hedrick@msu.edu
Home Phone: please ask
Webpage: https://christianlotz.wordpress.com
Box
You will find our box in the front office of the philosophy department
Schedule
Introduction
Sep 2, Introduction
Suffering, History, and Rationality
Sep 9, Rousseau, Suffering, Society
Rousseau: Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (all); The Social Contract, Book 1, chapters 1, 6-8; Horkheimer, Materialism and Materiality (pdf), pp.103-107 (on empathy); additional brief paragraphs provided in class
Sep 16, Hegel, Reason, and “Reasonable Society”
Hegel: Phenomenology, Preface, paragraphs 1-6, 11-13, 16-18, 20-30, 36, 40, 56-61, 67; Introduction, paragraphs 73-75, 78, 83-84, 88-89; Hegel, Philosophy of Right, preface; Engels, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, chapter I (online here); Horkheimer, Materialism and Morality (pdf), pp.96-100 and 107-111; selected paragraphs from Marx, Marcuse, and Adorno provided in class
Protocol: Erik
Sep 23, Materialism and Life
Marx, The German Ideology, section one: Feuerbach: Opposition of the Materialist and Idealist Outlooks (online here); Marx, Feuerbach Theses (online here and here)
Sep 30, Instinctual Repression
Freud, Civilization and its Discontent
Presentation: Julia
Oct. 7, Disentchantment
Nietzsche, ‘On the Meaning of Ascetic Ideals’ (selections); Weber, ’Science as Vocation’; Weber, conclusion to The Protestant Ethic.
Presentation: Erik
Oct 14, Abstraction
Horkheimer/Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment, Concept of Enlightenment
Protocol: John
Oct 21, Enlightenment
Horkheimer/Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment, Odysseus
Protocol: Youjin
Embodiment, Aggression, and Rationality
Oct. 28, Body and Sensuality
Adorno, Negative Dialectics, sections on Primacy of the Object + Materialism (online here; German pages: pp. 184-207); Feuerbach, Feuerbach, Principles of the Philosophy of the Future, part III (online here); Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, section on private property and communism (online here); Marx, German Ideology, section on Feuerbach and the production of consciousness (online here)
Protocol: Aidan
Presentation: Brian
Nov 4, Repression, Psychic Economy, Aggression
Freud, The Ego and the Id, section III-V; Freud, Civilization and its Discontent, section VI+VII; Freud, Instincts and their Vicissitudes; Freud, Repression; Adorno, The Revised Psychoanalysis
Presentation: Ahmed
Protocol: Julia
Nov 11, Coldness and Aggression
Adorno, Meditations on metaphysics in ND, first four subsections; Adorno, Minima Moralia (sections 6; 21; 46; 48; 49; appendix VII; online here); Adorno, Education after Auschwitz (pdf); Marcuse; Aggressiveness in Advanced Industrial Societies (online here)
Presentation: Youjin
Nov 18, Sensuality
Marcuse, Eros and Civilization, Political Preface (1966), chapter 1 (The Hidden Trend in Psychoanalysis), and chapters 6 (The Historical Limits of the Established Reality Principle) and 7 (Fantasy and Utopia)
Presentation: John
Protocol: Ahmed
Nov 25, Sensuality
Marcuse, Eros and Civilization, chapter 8 (The Images of Orpheus and Narcissus), 10 (The Transformation of Sexuality into Eros) and 11 (Eros and Thanatos)
Presentation: Aidan
Wrap Up
Dec 2, Wrap up
Dec 8
Final paper due by the end of the day (by email)
Course Description
Unlike approaches to social philosophy in Anglo-American philosophy, where appeals to common sense or moral facts, principles, and intuitions are more routine, in the post-Kantian continental tradition the entanglement of reason with history, society, embodiment, and trauma is a persistent issue. This has dramatically impacted the conceptualizations of critique that emerge from this tradition, making the identification of social obstacles to the development of human potentialities a central undertaking, and complicating the issue of whether and under what conditions philosophy as a critical enterprise is possible in the first place. In this year-long seminar, we will explore several facets of this broad issue in the following modules, which link 19th century critics of rationalism with 20th and 21st century critical theorists: Reason and History; Repression and Embodiment; Dialectics, Experience, and Philosophy; Capitalist Culture and Fetishism; Social Pathologies and Practical Reason.
Note
Although this course is meant to run over two semesters and though the second semester presupposes some topics discussed in the first semester, enrolling in one of the semesters should not present an issue.
Course Goals
This course should students make familiar with critical conceptions of reason and rationality in the German tradition of critical theory, in particular the idea that rationality and irrationality are intertwined and that rationality can only be understood with its “other,” such as repression, dreams, embodiment, social pathologies, and that this entwinement leads to a social-material conception of reason and rationality.
Note
This graduate seminar is not based on a set of fixed knowledge and, as such, is not based on a behavioral idea of education; rather, we will try to learn together and critically examine the material.
Required Texts
To be purchased:
- Freud, Freud Reader (ed. Gay)
- Rosseau, Second Discourse
- Marcuse, Eros and Civilization
- Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment
- Nietzsche, Geneology of Morality
Available as pdfs:
- tbd
- tbd
Course Requirements
- Protocol, write-up, up to 900 words, 10%
- Oral presentation, 20 minutes, 20%
- Final paper, 10-12 pages, 70%
- Regular participation, you are expected to not miss any class session
Protocol (German tradition)
The class protocol should cover our discussion in class. Protocols should have a length of 2-3 pages (no more than 900 words), and they will in and outside of the classroom force us to have an ongoing reflection on our texts that we study for class. They can also include problems or questions that the writers had either with our class discussion or with the texts itself, but above all protocols should cover what we lectured about and what we discussed afterwards. Protocols should clarify and discuss selected issues in question. Protocols have to be sent out to other students two days before class. We’ll radically mark down late turn ins. The student who wrote the protocol will address questions during the first 15 minutes of the next class meeting, and he/she will lead the class discussion.
Presentation
Each student will be responsible for one class and for working out an introductory presentation, which should function as a platform for our discussions. Please focus on one or two aspects of the readings; desired length of presentations: no more than 20-25 minutes.
General Remark
Given that this is a graduate seminar, we expect self-motivation, autonomy, as well as self-responsibility. The attendance requires the willingness to intensively study the text selected for class.
Final Paper
The class essay should be well researched and should present a substantial reflection on some parts of the material discussed in class. We expect excellent papers in regard to research, form, and content. We will fail papers that do not comply with formal standards (footnotes, literature, etc.). The paper should be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 150 words. The paper should be “conference style,” i.e., it should have a length of around 12 pages.
DFs
We will refuse giving DFs in this class, unless you find yourself in a real emergency situation (hospitalization, etc.)
Course Evaluation
Assignments
| 1 final paper (up to 3600 words) | 70 points |
| 1 oral presentation | 20 points |
| 1 protocol | 10 points (pass/fail) |
| ——– | |
| 100 points | |
Grading
| 4.0 (=A) | 100 – 93 |
| 3.5 | 92 – 87 |
| 3 (=B) | 86 – 82 |
| 2.5 | 81 – 77 |
| 2 (=C) | 76 – 72 |
| 1.5 | 71 – 65 |
| 1.0 (=D) | 64 – 60 |
| 0.0 | < 60 |
GENERIC SYLLABUS (might not be applicable to each class)
Laptop/Cell Phone Policy
You are not permitted to use laptops and cell phones in class. Please do not text under the table. Cell phones should be removed from tables. Failure to follow this policy will lead to unannounced assignments in class or loss of points (at the digression of the instructor).
Class Attendance
As mentioned above, I do not employ in my classes a class attendance policy. Having said this, you should be aware that class attendance is very important. When engaging in a philosophical and humanistic dialogue it is necessary to be an active and present participant in the ongoing discussion. If you miss class please do not email me asking if you missed anything important. Every class is important. You should get a study buddy for the class; a student in class who will inform you of what you missed. If you miss a class you can come to my office hours or make an appointment to discuss the material, providing you have read the material and you simply want to see if your understanding of the material is on target. Time in office hours will not be used to repeat the class lectures.
Grading Criteria + Paper Writing Tips
Check out this page for grading criteria, example of assignments, etc.
Online Research Sources
Unfortunately, some people think that the internet as such is a reliable source of information. If you decide to use online sources for additional information or your paper then do not just use one of the common internet search engines, such as Google; rather, use reliable academic sources, such as Britannica Online, or the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The Internet Ecyclopedia of Philosophy isn’t very good, but still acceptable. Check out MSU’s library resources! And, as with other sources, you must cite any online sources to which you refer in your essay.
Writing Center Information
MSU’s writing center offers excellent help on all matters regarding writing and learning. Check the website at http://writing.msu.edu for an overview and hours. For more information, please call 517.432.3610 or send an e-mail to writing@msu.edu.
Integrity of Scholarship and Grades (Plagiarism)
The following statement of University policy addresses principles and procedures to be used in instances of academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records, herein after referred to as academic misconduct. [See General Student Regulation 1.00, Protection of Scholarship and Grades.]
Academic Honesty
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that “The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.” In addition, the (insert name of unit offering course) adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU Web site: www.msu.edu) Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Students who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade on the assignment or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course work. (See also https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/)
Plagiarism, from the Ombudsman’s page
Plagiarism (from the Latin plagiarius, an abductor, and plagiare, to steal) is defined by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on Misconduct in Research (take that!) as “ . . . the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit.”
Accidental or Unintentional
One may not even know that they are plagiarizing. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that they understand the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, as well as the proper way to cite material.
Blatant
Here, students are well aware that they are plagiarizing. Purposefully using someone else’s ideas or work without proper acknowledgment is plagiarism. This includes turning in borrowed or bought research papers as one’s own.
Self
Turning in the same term paper (or substantially the same paper) for two courses without getting permission from one’s instructor is plagiarism.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to establish reasonable accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor, call 353-9642 (voice) or 355-1293 (TTY)
Drops and Adds
The last day to add this course is the end of the first week of classes. The last day to drop this course with a 100 percent refund and no grade reported is (see Academic Calendar). The last day to drop this course with no refund and no grade reported is (see Academic Calendar). You should immediately make a copy of your amended schedule to verify you have added or dropped this course.
Note on Attendance
Students who fail to attend the first four class sessions or class by the fifth day of the semester, whichever occurs first, may be dropped from the course.
Christian Lotz 