middCourses
Critical Theory and Philosophy
PHIL 0245

Critical Theory and Philosophy Critical theory is a social and political philosophy that emerged from 19th century continental thought in relation to political economy, psychoanalysis and aesthetic theory. It is concerned with the application of philosophy to “the abolition of social injustice” as Max Horkheimer once noted. This is an introductory, discussion-based seminar where we will begin with Hegel and Marx and read primary texts from the Frankfurt School on alienation, material culture, and dialectical reasoning. Authors to include: Adorno, Benjamin, Butler, Habermas, Jaeggi, Marcuse. We will conclude with a selection from contemporary critical race theory, performative and social philosophy.

3 reviewsS23
Philosophy of Fascism
JWST 1019

Philosophy of Fascism in the work of Adorno, Arendt and Benjamin Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940). Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./

0 reviewsW23
Philosophy of Fascism
PHIL 1019

Philosophy of Fascism in the work of Adorno, Arendt and Benjamin Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940). Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./

1 reviewW23
Intro Western Phil Tradition
PHIL 0150

Introduction to the Western Philosophical Tradition This course will introduce students to fundamental philosophical issues concerning the nature of reality (metaphysics), the possibility of knowledge (epistemology), and the nature of value (ethical theory) through a reading of a number of important primary texts of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Mill, Nietzsche, and Freud. Cannot be taken by students with credit for PHIL 0151.

1 reviewS22
Philosophy of Fascism
JWST 1019

Philosophy of Fascism in the work of Adorno, Arendt and Benjamin Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940). Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./

3 reviewsW22
Philosophy of Fascism
PHIL 1019

Philosophy of Fascism in the work of Adorno, Arendt and Benjamin Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940). Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./

1 reviewW22
PHIL02453 months ago

Interesting topic, and Mr. Jacobson is clearly passionate and genuinely interested in critical theory. The topic, however, is far too broad to be covered in a single semester. The course being 3 hours at night once a week didn't help either, with lectures often becoming monotone and difficult to follow. Some very interesting readings.

Constant ReadingFair GradingNo Exams
10hrs / week Very difficulty Low value Would not take again
JWST10199 months ago

Can’t say I’ve ever had a class like this since. Jacobson is a total beast. Hannah Arendt? Yes, please. Went snowshoeing. Character-building class. It was a deep dive into a philosophical question with a philosophical guy — and some philosophical try hards sprinkled in. But, overall, I became a better writer. We lived, we laughed, we loved.

Constant ReadingTough Grading
7hrs / week Very difficulty Above average value Would take again
PHIL02452 years ago

I really enjoyed taking the class because it was a very unique class that Middlebury does not usually offer. Professor Jacobson was incredibly passionate about the topics he taught and it showed when he gave lectures. Midd should give him more classes to teach!!!

Chill and RelaxedConstant ReadingFair Grading
4hrs / week Average difficulty Extremely high value Would take again
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