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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.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture
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
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459