PHIL 3333 - The Rise and Fall of Reason: Nineteenth Century Philosophy

3 (3-0)

Prerequisite(s): Communication Core complete and 3 hours of prior philosophy coursework or permission of instructor.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, philosophy had developed a nearly unshakable conviction that our powers of reason would unlock all the mysteries of existence. This course will examine the astonishing heights of reason as developed in German idealism, as well as the skeptical backlash against this abstract and otherworldly project. The romantics offer a counterpoint to the worship of reason by pursuing the mystery and wonder of nature and its irrational, sometimes nightmarish, power to create and destroy without regard to human beings. These theoretical vistas have a profound impact on the development of social and political thought well into the twentieth century. Students will see the tumultuous philosophical development of the nineteenth century, which lays the groundwork for important philosophical theories alive today, such as structuralism, postmodernism, and deconstruction.

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