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Academic Year 2000/2001


Enacting Enlightenment: Visions of Ethical Agency in Kant and Diderot
PHIL 368 FA

Many central tenets of the Enlightenment progressivist ethos can be traced to 18th-century European philosophers, but so, too, can many of the ambivalences and criticisms that feature prominently in 20th-century authors' sharply contrasting visions of the possibilities for acting in pursuit of progressivist ideals. One of these authors is Immanuel Kant, whose philosophical writings formulate the demand that all persons, as rational agents, are obligated to strive toward the realization of universal rational ideals in the human social world. As we will see, Kant's demand draws not just on an ethical theory but also on a practical anthropology and an account of human history according to which our ethical agency can be situated within a rational narrative of progress. In surveying these works, we will consider to what extent Kantian ethical agency is possible within a contemporary context in which rational ideals can no longer find plausible support in complementary anthropological and historica l visions. The other author studied will be Denis Diderot, whose literary dialogues call into question the legitimacy of the ideals to that Enlightenment thinkers--including Diderot himself--are committed. Since the issues raised by his fiction hold muc h in common with certain strands of 20th-century critical thought, our reading of him in counterpoint to Kant will further enrich our sense of the problems that must be confronted by contemporary agents insofar as they still remain at all committed to the realization of Enlightenment ideals.

MAJOR READINGS

Immanuel Kant: ANTHROPOLOGY FROM A PRAGMATIC POINT OF VIEW, historical and political essays, CRITIQUE OF PRACTICAL REASON Denis Diderot: JACQUES THE FATALIST, RAMEAU'S NEPHEW, SUPPLEMENT TO BOUGAINVILLE'S VOYAGE, short stories Various essays on Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment thought

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

To be announced

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS PHIL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001


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