This course constitutes a survey of late modern philosophy, concentrating on the major philosophers who lived and worked during the late 18^th & 19^th centuries (approximately 1750-1900). We will focus on 3 in particular—Immanuel Kant, G.W.F. Hegel, and Karl Marx, while also studying more briefly such figures as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Such questions as the following will be considered: Why is Kant’s work considered to have revolutionized philosophy? How can Hegel’s thought be regarded as a synthesis of much of philosophy prior to him? To what extent did Marx’s ideas depart from most previous philosophical theories? The origins of a number of new concepts from this period of philosophy will be studied—for instance, those of idealism, materialism, the will, the analytic-synthetic distinction, a priori knowledge, dialectics, phenomenology, ideology, alienation, and capital.

Readings will include: Kant: Selections, ed. Beck (Prentice Hall); The Hegel Reader, ed. Houlgate (Blackwell); Karl Marx: Selected Writings, ed. McLellan (Oxford); Nietzsche, Beyond Good & Evil (Penguin); Rousseau, The 1^st & 2^nd Discourses (Saint Martin’s); & Schopenhauer, Essays & Aphorisms (Penguin).

Prerequisite: One course in philosophy; also recommended: one or more historical courses in philosophy, especially PHIL 212 and/or 215. This course is required of all Philosophy & Philosophy, Politics, & Society majors.