Philosophy in Berlin: From Kant to the Bologna Process

(English: B2)

This course examines the motives behind and consequences of the most recent European university reform: the Bologna Process in 1999. While the Bologna reform aimed to harmonize European universities by providing mobility and comparability across countries, it is subject to criticism. Is the Bologna Process chiefly motivated by economic interests? Is fast employability becoming more important than thorough research? Does the Bologna Process require the separation of teaching from research? Does modularization of study programs do justice to the educational objectives? Do program entry restrictions violate freedom of occupational choice? By reading and discussing texts and documents relating to the Bologna Process, this course reflects upon precisely how studies and professional prospects are afflicted by the Bologna Process. Moreover, this course critically compares the Bologna reform with views on teaching and research held by philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Wilhelm von Humboldt.

The course is taught digitally via the remote conferencing service Zoom Video Communications:

https://zoom.us/

Reading materials are made available electronically in both the German original and English translation. Instruction and discussion are in English, but German contributions are welcome.


Semester: SuTerm 2020