Philosophy of History from Kant to Foucault



Overview

One of the distinctive features of much modern European philosophy has been reflection on the meaning of human history. How should we, as historical beings, understand ourselves and our place in history? Are we moving forward, and if so, how and to what? Or should we rather be looking back, to understand where we are now and how we got here? And who indeed is meant to be included in the “we” in these questions?

This course will consider how some of the most important thinkers of the last 250 years, including Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Benjamin, Adorno, Foucault and Derrida, have asked and answered these questions.

The course will focus on a selection of key texts, showing how they cite, criticise and complicate each other. Given the centrality of history to all the thinkers concerned, the course will also provide a useful introduction to important strands within modern European philosophy. It will also reflect on the extent to which the project of philosophical history is complicit with European racism and colonialism.  

Programme details

Course starts: 21 Sept 2023

Week 0: Course Orientation

Week 1: Philosophical history in the enlightenment and counter-enlightenment; decolonizing the philosophy of history?

Week 2: Kant: universal history

Week 3: Hegel: world history as the progress of spirit

Week 4: Marx: historical materialism

Week 5: Nietzsche: the uses and disadvantages of history for life

Week 6: Nietzsche: genealogy and the critique of progress

Week 7: Heidegger: from existential historicity to the history of being

Week 8: Benjamin: messianic history

Week 9: Adorno: history as catastrophe?

Week 10: Foucault and Derrida: deconstruction, genealogy and "the end of man"

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £257.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Meade McCloughan

Meade McCloughan has been studying philosophy for 40 years and has taught at University College London and Birkbeck College London.  He is on the organising group of the Marx and Philosophy Society.

Course aims

To introduce participants to the ways in which key modern European thinkers have thought about history.

Course Objectives:

  • To study the central themes in modern European philosophy of history.
  • To understand the interrelations and debates between the philosophers considered.
  • To enable a critical and informed approach to the issues involved.

Teaching methods

Copies of primary material by the philosophers covered will be made available electronically. These materials, along with the pre-recorded lecture, will then be the basis for the "live" discussion session. Students will be able to benefit from formative feedback on written work during the course.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • have become familiar with the main elements of modern European philosophy of history;
  • have developed informed and considered views as to the value of philosophical reflection on history;
  • have developed skills in reading and evaluating a variety of historical philosophical texts.

Assessment methods

Participants will be given four short exercises during the course to complete (up to 500 words each). The tutor will assess and provide written comments on completed exercises. Students will be able to do all four short exercises.

Students can choose to be assessed for the course EITHER on the basis of THREE completed short exercises OR by submitting an essay of 1,500 words on a chosen topic from the course (suggested questions will be provided during the course). Those choosing to write an essay can submit a 500 word draft for feedback in advance of submitting the final version or can use one of the short exercises for the same purpose.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

We will close for enrolments 7 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (7 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

This course deals with some difficult philosophical texts but aims to do so in a way which makes them accessible.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support