Philosophy in Berlin: Programmatic Writings by Berlinbased Philosophers in the 19th and 20th Century Berliner Philosophie: Programmatische ...

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Philosophy in Berlin: Programmatic Writings by Berlin-
based Philosophers in the 19th and 20th Century

Berliner Philosophie: Programmatische Schriften von
Berliner Philosophen im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert

Semester:             Winter semester 2018/19
Course instructor:    Benjamin Wilck, benjamin.wilck3@gmail.com
Subject area:         Philosophy / Cultural Studies / Literature and Language Studies
Credits:              5 ECTS
Time:                 Monday 10 – 12 c.t.
Room:                 0323-26

Course description:
What is a university, and what is the relation between philosophy and the university? This
course explores the origins and objectives of philosophical theories of the university in 19th-
century Prussian Berlin, while simultaneously providing a critical perspective on that
philosophy’s history from the 20th century until today. The Humboldt University Berlin was
founded in 1809/10 under the name ‘Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität’ as a result of calls for
university reform by Berlin-based philosophers such as Fichte, Hegel, von Humboldt, and
Schleiermacher. Of particular significance was Wilhelm von Humboldt’s plan to create a new
kind of university, in which teaching and research would form a unity, in which science
would be pursued independently of political and economic interests, and in which students
would receive a universal education. Subsequently, Humboldt University Berlin became the
paradigm of a new era of university and science. In reading texts written by philosophers
before, during, and after the establishment of the Humboldt University, we will trace how
ideas relating to the structure and purpose of the university and academic teaching and
scientific research changed and were implemented in the course of the last two centuries.

Learning objectives:
The objective of this Bachelor-level course is to equip students with an overview of the
philosophical activity in Berlin in the 19th and 20th century and, in particular, with an in-depth
understanding of the philosophical circumstances which led to the establishment of
Humboldt University. The course will enable its participants to read and understand central
philosophical texts about the idea of the university, as well as to critically reflect on the
question as to how philosophy can have an actual impact on institutions such as universities.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge
   • Understand, describe, and identify the different ways in which philosophers such as
      Hegel, Fichte, Schelling, von Humboldt, and Schleiermacher put forward their claims
      and arguments
   • Provide an overview of programmatic writings by Berlin-based philosophers of the
      19th and 20th century about their respective ideas of what a university is
   • Direct independent research on topics discussed in the course

Skills
     •   Analyze and critically reflect on philosophical texts in general
     •   Select relevant sources and methods for analyzing course-related questions
     •   Communicate and discuss key concepts in philosophy

Competencies
   • Read primary philosophical texts
   • Apply relevant theories and concepts in independent work in order to analyze new
     problems

Assessment:
   • Regular attendance, active participation
   • Presentation (about 10–15 minutes with questions for the audience)
   • Final research essay (Deadline: 8 February 2019; format: about 2000 words, double-
      spaced, Times New Roman ft.12)

    Participants will receive their grades for this course on 15 February 2019 at 12 noon. The
    grade will be composed of the partial grade for the presentation (1/3 of the entire grade)
    and the partial grade for the research essay (2/3 of the entire grade).

Language requirements:
At least German B2 and English B2 will be required to participate in this class. Since many
but not all of the course readings are available in English translation, a high level of academic
spoken and written German is required for some of the readings in this course. Depending
on the participants, discussion will take place in German or English. Presentations and
written essays may be in German or English.

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Timetable:

Session 1:     22 October 2018        Introduction

In the first session, we will informally discuss the question as to what a university is, and get
an overview of the topics to be covered in the course of this class.

Recommended readings:
   – Reinhardt Brandt: Wozu noch Universitäten? Ein Essay, Hamburg: Felix Meiner, 2011.

Session 2:     29 October 2018        Kant’s idea of the university

In the second session, we will ascertain Kant’s view about the role of philosophy in a
university, and thereby get an insight into the institutional status of academic philosophy in
the 18th century. The philosopher Immanuel Kant was not based in Berlin, yet his polemic
book Der Streit der Fakultäten from 1798 can be regarded as the origin of the calls for
university reform by Berlin-based philosophers such as Fichte, von Humboldt, Hegel, and
Schleiermacher.

Readings:
– Hans Albrecht Koch: Die Universität. Geschichte einer europäischen Bildungsinstitution,
   Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 2008, pp. 128–139
– I. Kant: Der Streit der Fakultäten (1798)

Session 3:     5 November 2018        Von Humboldt’s idea of the university

The philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt was actively engaged in the institutional
founding of Humboldt University Berlin. We will carry out a close reading of Humboldt’s two
programmatic texts regarding the establishment of a new university in Berlin

Readings:
– W.v. Humboldt: “Antrag auf Errichtung der Universität Berlin” (1809)
– W.v. Humboldt: “Über die innere und äussere Organisation                        der   höheren
   wissenschaftlichen Anstalten in Berlin” (1809/10)

Session 4:     12 November 2018        Fichte’s idea of the university

The philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte was the founder of German Idealism and the first
rector of Humboldt University Berlin. We will read selected passages from Fichte’s
programmatic treatise “Deduzierter Plan einer zu Berlin zu errichtenden höhern
Lehranstalt”.

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Readings:
– J.G. Fichte: “Deduzierter Plan einer zu Berlin zu errichtenden höhern Lehranstalt“ (1807)

Session 5:    19 November 2018         Schleiermacher’s idea of the university

The theologian and philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher also actively contributed to the
establishment of Humboldt University Berlin. We will study his essay “Gelegentliche
Gedanken über Universitäten in deutschem Sinn. Nebst einem Anhang über eine neu zu
errichtende”, and compare it to von Humboldt’s and Fichte’s conceptions.

Readings:
– F.D.E. Schleiermacher: “Gelegentliche Gedanken über Universitäten in deutschem Sinn.
   Nebst einem Anhang über eine neu zu errichtende” (1808).

Session 6:    26 November 2018        Hegel’s idea of the university

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel is the most prominent philosopher involved in the
establishing of Humboldt University Berlin, where he taught from 1816 until his death in
1831. We will read Hegel’s essay “Über den Vortrag der Philosophie auf Universitäten” on
academic philosophy, his inaugural lecture, as well as related official documents by and
about Hegel.

Readings:
– Horst Althaus: Hegel und Die heroischen Jahre der Philosophie. Eine Biographie, Munich /
   Vienna: Carl Hanser, 1992, pp. 310–352.
– G.W.F. Hegel: “Über den Vortrag der Philosophie auf Universitäten” (1810)
– G.W.F. Hegel: “Schreiben an den Königlich Preußischen Regierungsrat und Professor
   Friedrich v. Raumer” (1816)
– G.W.F. Hegel: “Berliner Antrittsrede” (1818)

Session 7:    3 December 2018         Fichte on the vocation of the scholar

We will read selected passages from Fichte’s early Vorlesungen über die Bestimmung des
Gelehrten (Lectures on the Vocation of the Scholar), in which he sets out a philosophical ideal
of scholarly life.

Readings:
– J.G. Fichte: Einige Vorlesungen über die Bestimmung des Gelehrten (1794).

Session 8:    10 December 2018       Hegel’s view of philosophy

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We will read Hegel’s preface to his Elements of the Philosophy of Right, in which he
determines the relationship between philosophy and reality.

Readings:
– G.W.F. Hegel: Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts (1820), preface (“Vorrede”)

Session 9:    17 December 2018         Schelling’s view of philosophy

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling was, alongside Fichte and Hegel, one of the leading
figures of German Idealism. After Hegel’s death, Schelling took over the chair of philosophy
in Berlin in order to teach his anti-Hegelian program of philosophy. We will read selected
passages from Schelling’s late Vorlesungen über die Philosophie der Offenbarung (Lectures
on the Philosophy of Revelation) from 1841/42.

Readings:
– F.W.J. Schelling: Urfassung der Philosophie der Offenbarung (1841/42), lectures 1–6 of
   the first term

Session 10:   7 January 2019          Heinrich Heine on German philosophy

After our readings of programmatic philosophical writings surrounding the establishing of
Humboldt University Berlin, we will read passages from Heine’s amusing intellectual history
of Prussian Germany Zur Geschichte der Religion und Philosophie in Deutschland from 1834,
in which the Berlin-based poet draws an amusing picture of Prussian philosophy.

Readings:
– H. Heine: Zur Geschichte der Religion und Philosophie in Deutschland (1834)

Session 11:   14 January 2019       Heidegger’s idea of the university

In order to conclude our readings of programmatic writings on philosophy and the university
we will gain a critical perspective on that philosophy’s subsequent history. In particular, we
will discuss Martin Heidegger’s inaugural address as rector of Freiburg, the “Rektoratsrede”,
which was entitled “The Self-Assertion of the German University”.

Readings:
– M. Heidegger: „Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universität“ (1933)

Session 12:   21 January 2019        Discussion of student essays I

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The participants will present their prospective research essays and give each other feedback.

Session 13:   28 January 2019        Sightseeing

We will visit the main building of Humboldt University Berlin and other of its various faculty
buildings, as well as the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof where Fichte and Hegel were buried.

Session 14:   4 February 2019        Reflexion

In this session, we will reflect on our previous readings and discussion results, as well as
prepare the last session, in which we will interview a contemporary Berlin-based philosopher
about her/his own views on philosophy and the university.

Session 15:   11 February 2019       Philosophy in Berlin now

In the final session, we will invite a contemporary Berlin-based philosopher and interview
her/him about her/his own views on philosophy and the university.

Literature:
(The relevant literature will be made available via Moodle or Dropbox.)

Introductory readings:
– Althaus, Horst: Hegel und Die heroischen Jahre der Philosophie. Eine Biographie,
    München / Wien: Carl Hanser, 1992, especially pp. 310–352.
– Brandt, Reinhardt: Wozu noch Universitäten? Ein Essay, Hamburg, Felix Meiner, 2011.
– Gerhardt, Volker and Mehring, Reinhard and Rindert, Jana (eds.): Berliner Geist: Eine
    Geschichte der Berliner Universitätsphilosophie bis 1946, Berlin / New York: de Gryter,
    1999 [reprint 2015].
– Koch, Hans Albrecht: Die Universität. Geschichte einer europäischen Bildungsinstitution,
    Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 2008, especially pp. 128–139.
– Markschies, Christoph: Was von Humboldt noch zu lernen ist. Aus Anlass des
    zweihundertjährigen Geburtstags der Preußischen Reformuniversität, Berlin: Berlin
    University Press, 2010.

Primary texts:
– Der Präsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (ed.): Gründungstexte. Johann Gottlieb
    Fichte, Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher, Wilhelm von Humboldt. Festgabe zum 200-
    jährigen Jubiläum der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Berlin: Humboldt-Universität zu
    Berlin, 2010.

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–   Fichte, Johann Gottlieb: Über den Gelehrten. Bestimmung des Gelehrten, 1794. Wesen
    des Gelehrten, 1805. Bestimmung des Gelehrten, 1811, edited by Fritz Medicus, Leipzig:
    Fritz Eckardt, 1911.
–   Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich: Berliner Schriften (1818-1831), Hamburg: Felix Meiner,
    1997.
–   Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich: Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts, Hamburg: Felix
    Meiner, 2018.
–   Heidegger, Martin: Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universität. Rede, gehalten bei
    der feierlichen Übernahme des Rektorats der Universität Freiburg i. Br. am 27. 5. 1933. /
    Das Rektorat 1933/34. Tatsachen und Gedanken, Frankfurt am Main: Vittorio
    Klostermann, 1983.
–   Heine, Heinrich: Zur Geschichte der Religion und Philosophie in Deutschland, Leipzig:
    Reclam, 1970.
–   Kant, Immanuel: Der Streit der Fakultäten, Hamburg: Felix Meiner, 2005.
–   Klein, Helmut (ed.): Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Überblick 1810-1985, Berlin: VEB
    Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 1985.
–   Klein, Helmut (ed.): Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Dokumente 1810-1985, Berlin: VEB
    Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 1985.
–   Müller, Ernst (ed.): Gelegentliche Gedanken über Universitäten von J.J. Engel, J.B. Erhard,
    F.A. Wolf, J.G. Fichte, F.D.E. Schleiermacher, K.F. Savigny, W.v.Humboldt, G.W.F. Hegel,
    Leipzig: Reclam, 1990.
–   Schelling, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph: Urfassung der Philosophie der Offenbarung. Teilband
    1, Hamburg: Meiner, 1992.
–   Virmond, Wolfgang (ed.): Die Vorlesungen der Berliner Universität 1810-1834 nach dem
    deutschen und lateinischen Lektionskatalog sowie den Ministerialakten, Berlin:
    Akademie-Verlag, 2011.
–   Weischedel, Wilhelm (ed.): Idee und Wirklichkeit einer Universität. Dokumente zur
    Geschichte der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin: de Gruyter, 1960.

Primary texts in English translation:
(Note that many of the primary texts are also available via Wikisource.)
– Breazeale, Daniel (Hg.): Fichte. Early Philosophical Writings, Ithaca: Cornell University
    Press, 21993.
– Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich: Elements of the Philosophy of Right, Cambridge:
    Cambridge University Press, 1991.
– Heidegger, Martin: “The Self-Assertion of the German University” (online:
    http://la.utexas.edu/users/hcleaver/330T/350kPEEHeideggerSelf-Assertion.pdf).
– Pinkard, Terry (ed.): Heinrich Heine. On the History of Religion and Philosophy in
    Germany and Other Writings, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
– Reiss, Hans (ed.): Kant. Political Writings, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 21991.

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–   Schelling, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph: Philosophy of mythology and revelation: Three of
    seven books, Australian Association for the Study of Religions, 1995”, Journal of Political
    Economy, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 48–67.

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