History of Philosophy 2

The empiricist John Locke is considered the founder of political liberalism. Immanuel Kant heralds a new era in philosophy, with reason put at the centre of science, ethics and politics. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel builds on Kant, but also raises philosophical questions in light of philosophy’s own historical development. In different ways, Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche both turn critically against this history, something which still characterizes contemporary philosophical debate. The curriculum consists largely of original texts, and the main emphasis is on making students familiar with the philosophers' own writings. These are, however, illustrated by secondary literature from our own time. The courses also provide a general overview of the history of western philosophy in the period covered.

A candidate who has passed the course is expected to have the following knowledge and skills, as assessed in relation to the course curriculum:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has knowledge of the main features of the philosophical positions of Locke, Kant, Hegel, Marx and Nietzsche
• has more detailed knowledge of some key texts of the above philosophers

Skills

The candidate

• has the ability to read philosophical original texts (in translation) from the late 1600s to the late 1800s and to relate to secondary literature on these
• has the ability to see the arguments of the above philosophers in relation to one other, and to philosophical issues of our own time

Lectures, groups and self-study. In order to sit the exam, students must submit and get approved one written assignment (1600-3200 words, 12-point Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing). The written assignment is only given in the semester when the subject is taught, but is valid for this and the subsequent semester.