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Duration
LevelHusserl in Context (B-KUL-W0FA5A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Melle Ullrich (coordinator) |
Melle Ullrich
Aims
The aim of the seminar is the close reading of a major work of Edmund Husserl, Max Scheler, Martin Heidegger or another important author belonging to the phenomenological tradition. The student should learn to wrestle patiently and critically with a foundational text of the phenomenological tradition in all of its complexity. By a sustained engagement with a major work in phenomenology the student should get well acquainted with the specificity of the phenomenological approach and of concrete phenomenological work. Since each of the major authors has developed his personal variety of phenomenology, the student will also acquire in depth knowledge of one of these varieties depending on the work chosen.
Students will also be invited and encouraged to contribute actively to the discussion in class, to engage with the teacher and the other students in the common effort to elucidate the text, to articulate notions and distinctions to be found in the text, to interpret difficult passages and to critically question the ideas and descriptions presented. Students will be challenged to bear the frustrations of such labour and wrestling with a difficult philosophical text. In all of these respects the course will contribute to the philosophical maturation of the student and prepare students for qualified doctoral research.
Previous knowledge
Solid knowledge of the basic tenets of phenomenology, in particular of the methodological foundations of Husserl's phenomenology and of its fundamental notions like intentionality, transcendental consciousness, constitution etc. is required. Passive knowledge of German or French depending on the chosen work is advantageous because translations are at times problematic.
Content
Please see below under 'Activities'.
Course material
Text book
Is also included in other courses
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) (Major Phenomenology and Contemporary Continental Philosophy) 60 ects.
Activities
4.0 ects. Husserl in Context, Part 1 (B-KUL-W0FA6a)
Content
2012-2013: In 2013 the centenary of the publication of one of Husserl's most important books, the Ideas I, is celebrated. The class will be devoted to a complete reading of this work which is foundational for Husserl's mature philosophy.
Description of learning activities
Assigned sections of the book are presented at the beginning of class by a student in a succinct summary to start the discussion. Students are asked to study the weekly assigned section carefully at home and to prepare questions concerning difficult passages and the ideas expressed in the text. The class is seen as a common effort between students and teacher to wrestle with the text, to overcome difficulties of understanding, to elucidate obscure passages, to grasp different layers of meaning, to develop different interpretations etc. Everybody is therefore asked and encouraged to contribute to this effort.
Attendance is required for this course. The student who is repeatedly and for unfounded reasons absent can be denied further access to class by the teacher of the course.
Course material
2012-2013: Edmund Husserl, Ideas Pertaining to Phenomenology and to a Phenomenological Philosophy. First Book: General Introduction to Phenomenology, translated by Fred Kersten, The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1982. The book will be put on reserve in the library.
4.0 ects. Husserl in Context, Part 2 (B-KUL-W0FA7a)
Content
2012-2013: In 2013 the centenary of the publication of one of Husserl's most important books, the Ideas I, is celebrated. The class will be devoted to a complete reading of this work which is foundational for Husserl's mature philosophy.
Description of learning activities
Assigned sections of the book are presented at the beginning of class by a student in a succinct summary to start the discussion. Students are asked to study the weekly assigned section carefully at home and to prepare questions concerning difficult passages and the ideas expressed in the text. The class is seen as a common effort between students and teacher to wrestle with the text, to overcome difficulties of understanding, to elucidate obscure passages, to grasp different layers of meaning, to develop different interpretations etc. Everybody is therefore asked and encouraged to contribute to this effort.
Attendance is required for this course. The student who is repeatedly and for unfounded reasons absent can be denied further access to class by the teacher of the course.
Course material
2012-2013: Edmund Husserl, Ideas Pertaining to Phenomenology and to a Phenomenological Philosophy. First Book: General Introduction to Phenomenology, translated by Fred Kersten, The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1982. The book will be put on reserve in the library.
Evaluation
Evaluation : Husserl in Context (B-KUL-W2FA5a)
Explanation
Examination description
The paper is the principal evaluation form. Presentations in class and contributions to the discussion are not strictly graded but they are taken into account in such a way that they can enhance the grade for the paper if the paper falls somewhat short of the quality of the contribution to the class. The paper is on a self-chosen topic related to the text dealt with and the topics discussed in class. The paper should first of all demonstrate the ability of the student to critically engage a difficult philosophical text by elucidating its meaning, clearly articulating notions and distinctions made in the text and proposing a well-supported interpretation. Comparisons with other authors, texts, viewpoints as well as original and creative work by the student going beyond elucidation and interpretation should, if at all, only be undertaken on the firm basis of the textual work. The paper should be written such that it is intelligible also for someone who has not participated in class.
Determination of the examination result
If the student did not attend the course as required, did not sufficiently participate in group assignments (if applicable), did not give a presentation (if applicable), and/or did not submit all the course work (in time), s/he will receive the result 'not taken' (NA).
In case the student cannot, for well-founded reasons, attend class as required s/he needs to inform the teacher of the course without undue delay. The teacher can in this case decide to give the student a make-up assignment (for example, a reading report on the material covered in the seminar session which the student missed). In the case the student cannot, for serious reasons and regularly or for a long period of time, attend class as required or in case the student cannot, for serious reasons, give a presentation on a scheduled date, s/he needs to inform the examination ombudsperson without undue delay.
Second examination attempt
The second examination attempt is limited to (re)submitting the course work. Participation and/or presentation cannot be retaken. The student who in the course of the academic year did not attend class as required or who did not give a presentation will again receive the NA result.
