Søren Kierkegaard - Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity _ Coursera

1/14/14 Sren Kierkegaard - Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity | Coursera

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Sren Kierkegaard -Subjectivity, Irony and theCrisis of ModernityIn this course we will explore how Kierkegaard deals with the problems

associated with relativism, the lack of meaning and the undermining of

religious faith that are typical of modern life. His penetrating analyses are

still highly relevant today and have been seen as insightful for the

leading figures of Existentialism, Post-Structuralism and Post-Modernism.

About the Course

It is often claimed that relativism, subjectivism and nihilism are typically modern

philosophical problems that emerge with the breakdown of traditional values, customs

and ways of life. The result is the absence of meaning, the lapse of religious faith,

and feeling of alienation that is so widespread in modernity.

The Danish thinker Sren Kierkegaard (1813-55) gave one of the most penetrating

analyses of this complex phenomenon. But somewhat surprisingly he seeks insight

into it not in any modern thinker but rather in an ancient one, the Greek philosopher

Socrates.

In his famous work The Concept of Irony Kierkegaard examines different forms of

subjectivism and relativism as they are conceived as criticisms of traditional culture.

He characterizes these different tendencies under the heading of irony. He realizes

that once critical reflection has destroyed traditional values, there is no way to go

back. But yet the way forward is uncertain. As the modern movements such as

Existentialism, Post-Structuralism and Post-Modernism reveal, the issues that

Kierkegaard faced are still among the central problems of philosophy today.

Course Syllabus

Part 1: Kierkegaard on Socratic Irony

(Full text titles for abbreviations and links are listed at end of syllabus)

Week 1

Course Introduction: The Life and Work of Kierkegaard as a Socratic Task

Plato: The Euthyphro (pp. 1-16)

Plato: The Apology (pp. 17-37)

Week 2

Kierkegaard, Martensen and Hegelianism at the University of Copenhagen

Hegel: The Socratic Method (Hist. of Phil., vol. 1, pp. 384-389, pp. 397-406)

Hegel: The Daimon (Hist. of Phil., vol. 1, pp. 421-425)

Hegel: The Fate of Socrates (Hist. of Phil., vol. 1, pp. 430-448)

Supplemental Reading

Hegel: The Principle of the Good (Hist. of Phil., vol. 1, pp. 406-411)

Kierkegaard: Journal AA:12 (KJN, vol. 1, pp. 19-22)

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Course at a Glance

3-5 hours of work / week

English

English subtitles

Instructors

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Jon Stewart

University ofCopenhagen



Week 3

Kierkegaards View of Socrates

Kierkegaard: The Daimon of Socrates (CI, pp. 157-167)

Kierkegaard: The Condemnation of Socrates (CI, pp. 167-183, pp. 193-197)


Kierkegaard: The View Made Necessary (CI, pp. 198-214)

Kierkegaard: The Conflict between the Old and the New Soap-Cellar Journal

DD:208 (KJN, vol. 1, pp. 278-289)

Part 2: Kierkegaard on Romantic Irony

Week 4

Kierkegaard, Heiberg and History

Kierkegaard: The World-Historical Validity of Irony, the Irony of Socrates (CI pp.

241-271)


Kierkegaard: Introduction (CI, pp. 9-12)

Kierkegaard: Hegels View of Socrates (CI, pp. 219-237)

Heiberg: On the Significance of Philosophy for the Present Age (pp. 83-119)

Week 5

Kierkegaard, P.M. Mller and Friedrich von Schlegel

Kierkegaard: Irony After Fichte: Fichte (CI, pp. 272-286)

Kierkegaard: Irony After Fichte: Schlegel (CI, pp. 286-301)

Kierkegaard: Irony as a Controlled Element the Truth of Irony (CI, pp. 324-329)


Hegel: Fichte (Hist. of Phil., vol. 3, pp. 479-506)

Hegel: The More Important Followers of Fichte (Hist. of Phil., vol. 3, pp. 506-508)

Part 3: Kierkegaards Socratic Task

Week 6

The Conception of Kierkegaards Socratic Task: 1843

The Trip to Berlin and the Beginning of the Authorship

Kierkegaard: Diapsalmata (EO1, pp. 17-43)

Kierkegaard: Problema I (FT, pp. 54-67)


Martensen: Rationalism, Supernaturalism (pp. 127-143)

Kierkegaard: A Word of Thanks to Professor Heiberg (COR, pp. 17-21)

Week 7

Kierkegaards Socratic Task: 1844-45

The Development of the Pseudonymous Works



Kierkegaard: The Absolute Paradox (PF, pp. 37-48)

Kierkegaard: The Concept of Anxiety (CA, p. 3, p. 5, p. 16, pp. 134-135)

Kierkegaard: Preface VIII (P, pp. 159-170)

Kierkegaard: Stages on Lifes Way (SLW, pp. 481-485)

Kierkegaard: Becoming Subjective (CUP, pp. 184-188)

Kierkegaard: The Issue in Fragments (CUP, pp. 381-384)

Week 8

Kierkegaards Socratic Task: 1846-55

The Second Half of the Authorship and the Attack on the Church

Kierkegaard: The Point of View (PV, p. 24, pp. 54-55, pp. 68-69)

Kierkegaard: The Socratic Definition of Sin (SUD, pp. 90-100)

Kierkegaard: The God-Man is a Sign (PC, pp. 9-10, pp. 81-83, pp. 124-127)

Kierkegaard: Was Bishop Mynster a Truth Witness (M, pp. 3-8)

Kierkegaard: The Moment, no. 10 (M, pp. 340-347)

Texts:

Please note that all texts will be available free during the time period of the

course.

Plato: The Euthyphro, in Socrates of Athens, trans. by Cathal Woods and Ryan Pack.

(Available at http://books.google.dk/books?

id=v53iDJDi_M0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Plato: Socrates Defense (The Apology), in Socrates of Athens, trans. by Cathal

Woods and Ryan Pack.

(Available at http://books.google.dk/books?

id=v53iDJDi_M0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Hegel: Hist. of Phil. = Lectures on the History of Philosophy, vols. 1-3, trans. by E.S.

Haldane, London: K. Paul, Trench, Trbner 1892-96; Lincoln and London: University

of Nebraska Press 1955.

(Vol. 1 available at http://archive.org/details/lecturesonhisto00hegegoog)

(Vol. 3 available at http://archive.org/details/lectureshistoryp03hegeuoft)

Heiberg: On the Significance of Philosophy for the Present Age in Heibergs On the

Significance of Philosophy for the Present Age and Other Texts, ed. and trans. by Jon

Stewart, Copenhagen: C.A. Reitzel 2005 (Texts from Golden Age Denmark, vol. 1),

pp. 83-119.

(Available courtesy of Museum Tusculanum Press:

see http://www.mtp.hum.ku.dk/details.asp?eln=203519)

Kierkegaard: CA = The Concept of Anxiety, trans. by Reidar Thomte in collaboration

with Albert B. Anderson, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1980.

Kierkegaard: CI = The Concept of Irony, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong,

Princeton: Princeton University Press 1989.

Kierkegaard: COR = The Corsair Affair; Articles Related to the Writings, trans. by

Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1982.

Kierkegaard: CUP = Concluding Unscientific Postscript, vols. 1-2, trans. by Howard V.

Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1992, vol. 1.

Kierkegaard: EO1 = Either/Or 1, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong,


Kierkegaard: FT = Fear and Trembling, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong,




Kierkegaard: KJN = Kierkegaards Journals and Notebooks, ed. by Niels Jrgen

Cappelrn et al., Princeton: Princeton University Press 2007-.

Kierkegaard: M = The Moment and Late Writings, trans. by Howard V. Hong and

Edna H. Hong, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1998.

Kierkegaard: P = Preface VIII in Heibergs Perseus and Other Texts, ed. and trans.

by Jon Stewart, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press 2011 (Texts from Golden

Age Denmark, vol. 6), pp. 157-180.



Kierkegaard: PC = Practice in Christianity, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H.

Hong, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1991.

Kierkegaard: PF = Philosophical Fragments; Johannes Climacus, or De omnibus

dubitandum est, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton: Princeton

University Press 1985.

Kierkegaard: PV = The Point of View, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong,


Kierkegaard: SLW = Stages on Lifes Way, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H.


Kierkegaard: SUD = The Sickness unto Death, trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H.


Martensen: Rationalism, Supernaturalism and the principium exclusi medii, in

Mynsters Rationalism, Supernaturalism and the Debate about Mediation, ed. and

trans. by Jon Stewart, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press 2009 (Texts from

Golden Age Denmark, vol. 5), pp. 127-143.



Recommended Background

No prior knowledge of Kierkegaard is required. The course will be on an advanced

undergraduate level, and it will be an advantage for students to have some prior

knowledge or idea about the history of philosophy.

For students who wish to dig deeper than what is presented in video-presentations,

texts, and assignments there will be supplementary readings for all course modules.

FAQ

Will I get a Statement of Accomplishment after completing this class?

Yes. Students who successfully complete the class will receive a Statement of

Accomplishment signed by the instructor.

What resources will I need for this class?

For this course, all you need is an Internet connection, and the time to read, write,

discuss, and enjoy the texts and thoughts and ideas of Sren Kierkegaard.

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Søren Kierkegaard - Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity _ Coursera