PHIL 209 : 19th-Century European Philosophy

Arts

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines key figures in nineteenth-century European philosophy, including Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Søren Kierkegaard, and Karl Marx. Considers alternative reactions to the human condition, either by minimising suffering and seeking tranquillity, by embracing the pain that life contains and continuing to struggle for greatness, by aiming to experience one’s true individuality, or by working to establish a non-exploitative social community.

Course Overview

This course will consider the thought of six influential philosophers in both European philosophy  and in the history of Western philosophy in general: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), G. W. F. Hegel (1770-1831), Karl Marx (1818-1883), Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). The first six weeks will focus on Kant, Hegel, and Marx, whose views recognize reason, self-consciousness, and logic as central to philosophical understanding. The second six weeks will focus on Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche, whose views introduce a stronger role for non-rational aspects of reality, in particular, the importance of willpower. Their differences notwithstanding, these philosophers are all concerned with how to understand our place in a world that inevitably involves conflict and suffering. Our goal will be to describe and critically examine their alternative approaches to the possibility of metaphysical knowledge, their views on morality and a good society, and the most insightful way to live. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points in Philosophy Restriction: PHIL 329

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Read, write about, and critically evaluate the views of six of the most important philosophers of the late 18th and 19th century (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1)
  2. Explain the difference between more mechanically-oriented the 18th century and the more organically-oriented 19th century world views (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1)
  3. Understand alternative approaches to life in view of the existence of suffering in the world (Capability 1.1, 5.2 and 6.3)
  4. Understand an integrated overview of the course of human history (Capability 1.1, 2.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Examination

In preparation for the essay and final exam, there will be a series of online, short-answer tests that will not count towards the final grade, but will help identify main themes as well as help gauge one's progress throughout the course.

Next offered

2023.  The course is offered every other year.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. For this course, there will be 24 hours of lectures, 11 hours of tutorials, with the added expectation of 8 hours of reading and thinking about the content per week in conjunction with 19 hours of work applied to the 3,000 word coursework essay (=150 hours for a 15 point course).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at both lectures and tutorials.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be available as recordings.

Attendance on campus is required for the final exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable, with one 2-hour lecture per week and one 1-hour tutorial per week.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 22/12/2020 04:46 p.m.