Continental Philosophy

COURSE OBJECTIVE
The student:
• acquires knowledge of the most important philosophical traditions, ideas and philosophers in 20th century continental philosophy;
• learns about the continuities and discontinuities with earlier periods (modern philosophy);
• practices the ability to read and analyze primary philosophical texts;
• practices the skills of philosophical argumentation and writing;
• practices presentation skills.

COURSE CONTENT
Two main lines of thought characterize twentieth-century continental philosophy: the decentering of the subject and the linguistic turn. Both take shape in different ways in the most important philosophical traditions of this period: phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, critical theory, poststructuralism and philosophy of difference. In this course, these traditions will be discussed, and texts will be read of the most important philosophers of this age:
1. Phenomenology: Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty
2. Existentialism: Sartre
3. Hermeneutics: Gadamer
4. Critical theory / Frankfurter Schule: Adorno
5. Poststructuralism: Foucault, Butler 6. Deconstruction and philosophy of difference: Derrida, Deleuze.

TEACHING METHODS
Seminars to introduce the tradition; text reading seminars to discuss the primary texts. Attending the text reading seminars is mandatory.

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
- 3 short papers (800-1000 words) about the primary texts (10 % per paper)
- presentation on a continental philosopher or theme that is not discussed in the course (10 %)
- final exam with open essay questions (60 %)

RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Modern philosophy