Phil 16 19^th Century Continental Philosophy

Human Agency and Historical Progress

Rex Gilliland

Office: Thornton 208B

Phone: 646-9390

Course Description: Can one consistently hold that human beings are free to determine the course of their individual lives and that human civilization will continue to advance toward an ideal? To what extent is human nature determined by natural and social conditions, and what does this have to do with the likelihood of historical progress? In this course, we will examine the views of various 19^th century continental philosophers on human autonomy and the inevitability of historical progress, their justifications and criticisms of these notions, and the assumptions made about human nature and society.

Texts:

Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Perpetual Peace and other essays

Hegel, Introduction to the Philosophy of History

Schelling, On the Essence of Human Freedom

Marx, Selected Writings

Comte, Introduction to Positive Philosophy

Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals

Requirements and Grading:

1. Regular attendance, participation in class discussions, and completing the assigned reading before class.

2. Two essay exams and two papers, as well as quizzes and shorter writing assignments.