What is the relationship between theory and practice? Can philosophy ever be practical? Does philosophy have a revolutionary potential, as Karl Marx and Heinrich Heine claim? In what sense was Kant's so-called Copernican revolution a revolution? How was the French Revolution of 1789 perceived by its contemporary philosophers in Germany? What is the difference between revolution and reform? This course addresses these and related questions by discussing theories of revolution put forward by German philosophers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Marx, Heine, and Rosa Luxemburg. The course puts particular emphasis on the historical impact of philosophical ideas on politics, religion, and education, while also looking at the productive reception of Hegelian-Marxist ideas by Berlin-based artists such as Bertolt Brecht, Heiner Müller, and Ceal Floyer.
Language requirements English B2, German A2
All reading materials are made available electronically via Moodle in both German and English. Instruction and discussion are in English, but German contributions are very welcome.
- Course owner: Benjamin Wilck