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Description: |
Sometime near the beginning of the 19th century, the world began to undergo a series of massive social, cultural, and political transformations: These include, among other things, urbanization, industrialization, secularization, the growth of representative democracy and the nation-state, and the move away from traditional structures of thought to the belief that human beings could improve their lot through the use of rational, technical, and scientific practices. Using the writings of Marx, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, and Freud as our guide, this course will explore some of these transformations and their implications: Is the growth of rationality the same as “progress,” or does it encode new and more pernicious forms of domination? Are the freedoms that emerge with capitalism and representative government complete, or do they guarantee (and mask) exploitation? As traditional metaphysical worldviews collapse, what are the prospects for creating a meaningful life, and what are the political, cultural, and social consequences if we cannot do so? In addition to reading texts and talking them, we will also engage in a series of projects that explore these questions. |