University of Wisconsin-Madison
Topics in Continental Political Thought: Heidegger
Political Science 506/Integrated Liberal Studies 376
Fall 2011
Instructor: R. Avramenko Course: PS506/ILS376
Office: 201e North Hall Location: White 4275
Office Hours: R 1:00-3:00 Time: T 4:00–6:30
Objective:
The objective in this seminar is to consider carefully and critically the work of Martin Heidegger,
one of the most challenging and important philosophers of the twentieth century. We will pursue
this aim in two ways. First, we will seek to understand Heidegger’s most significant writings on
their own terms by examining his fundamental philosophical concepts, his phenomenological
hermeneutic, and his critiques of modernity. Second, we will explore the ways in which a
Heideggerian way of thinking can inform our personal and political lives by encountering works
of fiction and film that embody Heidegger’s thinking and his world. Students are encouraged to
harmonize both of these considerations as they participate in discussions and complete their
written assignments.
Required Texts (all):
Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time.
Heidegger, Martin. Poetry, Language, Thought
Heidegger, Martin. Pathmarks
Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology
Berry, Wendell. Citizenship Papers
Berry, Wendell. What are People for?
Wolin, Richard. The Heidegger Controversy
Recommended Reading (Required for graduate students):
Safranski, Rudiger. Heidegger: Between Good and Evil
Heidegger, Martin. Basic Problems of Phenomenology
Dreyfus, Hubert. Being-in-the-World: A Commentary on Heidegger's Being and Time, Division I
Gelven, Michael. A Commentary on Heidegger's Being and Time
Guignon, Charles. The Cambridge Companion to Heidegger
Students are required to purchase these translations/editions. This is a text-based course and
full participation requires that we navigate and explore the text togetherthat we be on the same
page, so to speak. Students must bring the text under consideration to class. No text, no
participation grade.
Requirements: Grading Schema:
Participation: 10% 94 % + A
Presentations: 10% 88-93 A/B
Weekly Papers (3): 50% 83 -87 B
Final Paper 30% 78-82 B/C
73-77 C
68-72 D
Else F
Participation:
The course is a proseminar.1 Effectiveness thus depends on two things: reading and participation.
The grading schema is therefore designed to encourage both. The participation is based on
attendance, preparedness, and participation in discussion. Carefully reading the assigned
material before each class will go far in ensuring a good participation grade.
Presentations:
Students will be responsible for three presentations in groups (4 or 5 students per week). On the
students’ assigned day for presentation they will serve as our resident hermeneuts. That is, the
students will become our experts on the text or film. The task is not to talk for the whole class,
but rather to facilitate the discussion, to present what are perceived to be the major themes and
statements in the text, and to be the experts guiding us in our interpretation and discussion.
Papers:
Papers (4-6pp) will be due in class the week after the student’s presentation (3 papers total). The
topic is open, but the paper will focus on the themes from the readings as discussed in the
seminar. A term paper (9-11 pp) is due on December 21; topics will emerge during the semester
as students discover issues of particular interest. All term paper topics should be approved in
consultation with me. Late papers will be penalized a half letter grade per day.
Itinerary:
Tuesday, September 6: Introduction (Film screening: All Quiet on the Western Front)
September 13: Heidegger, Being and Time, (pp. 1-64)
September 20: Heidegger, Being and Time (pp. 67-148)
October 27: Heidegger, Being and Time (pp. 149-224)
October 4: Heidegger, Being and Time (pp. 225-311)
October 11: Heidegger, “What is Metaphysics?” (in Pathmarks) and “Phenomenology and
Theology” (in Pathmarks)
1
Noun: a course conducted in the manner of a seminar for graduate students and advanced
undergraduates.
October 18: Heidegger, “On the Essence of Truth,” (in Pathmarks) and “Plato’s Doctrine of
Truth” (in Pathmarks)
October 25: Heidegger, “The Self-Assertion of the German University,” (in The Heidegger
Controversy) and “Overcoming Metaphysics” (in The Heidegger Controversy)
November 1: Film Screening: Triumph of the Will
November 8: Heidegger, “The Way to Language,” (in Poetry, Language, Thought) and “What
are Poets for?” (in Poetry, Language, Thought)
November 15: Heidegger, “Origins of a Work of Art,” (in Poetry, Language, Thought) and
“Letter on Humanism” (in Pathmarks)
November 22: Heidegger, “The Question Concerning Technology,” (in The Question
Concerning Technology) and “The Age of World Picture” (in The Question Concerning
Technology)
November 29: Heidegger, “The Turning,” (in The Question Concerning Technology) and
“Building, Dwelling, Thinking” (in Poetry, Language, Thought)
December 6: Wendell Berry, “Writer and Region” (pdf), “Let the Farm Judge,” “The Total
Economy,” “The Whole Horse" “The Agrarian Standard" in Citizenship Papers
December 13: Wendell Berry, “What are People for?”, “Waste,” “Economy of Pleasure,” “The
Pleasures of Eating,” “The Work of Local Culture,” “Why I’m not going to buy a
Computer,” in What are People for?, Heidegger, “Only a God Can Save Us” (in The
Heidegger Controversy)
December 21: Final Paper due