PHIL 317: STUDIES IN 19

TH
AND 20
TH
CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
HEGELS PHENOMENOLOGY OF SPI RI T
Tuesdays & Thursdays 11am-12:20pm in Harris Hall L07

Professor: Mark Alznauer
m-alznauer@northwestern.edu
Office: Crowe 3-167
Office Hours: Wed. 11:30am-1:30pm

Teaching Assistant: Chelsea Egbert
C6E3U6@u.northwestern.edu
Office: Kresge 4-305
Office Hours: Thu. 1-3pm.

Class Description: This class will involve a close reading of the first half of Hegels
Phenomenology of Spirit.

Class Requirements: Although the class presupposes no previous acquaintance with
Hegel, enrollment is restricted to students who have completed two prior courses in
philosophy. Students are expected to lavish their attention on the short readings as this is
the only way to make progress. There will also be weekly assignments and a final paper.

Learning Objective: I want you to learn how to read Hegel, to understand the basic
argument of the Phenomenology, and reconstruct one of his arguments in some detail.

Teaching Method: Seminar, twice a week.

Required Text: Hegels Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A. V. Miller (Oxford). Terry
Pinkards new translation, which is also useful, is available on-line here:
http://terrypinkard.weebly.com/phenomenology-of-spirit-page.html

Evaluation Method:

i.) Participation & Attendance (20%): You are allowed up to 2 excused absences
without penalty. For an absence to be excused, you must contact the TA in
advance of the class missed. If you miss a class without an excuse, this will
justify the loss of a full percentage point from your final grade. Frequent lateness,
lack of participation, etc., are also grounds for a grade reduction under this
category.

ii.) Weekly Assignment (30%): Every week, you are expected to write a short
comment on blackboard prior to the end of the day on Wednesday. The comment
needs to engage either one of the readings from that week or another students
comment. On average, comments should be around 250 words excluding
quotations (or 1 page double spaced). These will be graded: check plus (for a
very good comment); check (for a perfectly adequate comment); and check minus
(for a sub-par comment). Think of these, roughly, as A, B, and C grades. Keep in
mind that a check is the default for a satisfactory comment (neither a sign that you
are not doing a good job nor a sign that you have no room to improve).

iii.) Final Paper (50%): The greatest part of your grade for this course will be
based on your final paper. A one-page summary of your topic and strategy for
treating it will be due on Feb. 19
th
(e-mail it to Chelsea). The final paper is due
on the last day of class (March 7
th
). Final papers will also need to be submitted to
SafeAssign on the same day.

WEEK 1
1. (1/8) INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
2. (1/10) PREFACE (1-25) pp. 1-14

WEEK 2
3. (1/15) INTRODUCTION (73-89) pp. 46-57
4. (1/17) SENSE-CERTAINTY (90-110) pp. 58-66

WEEK 3
5. (1/22) PERCEPTION (111-131) pp. 67-79
6. (1/24) FORCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING (132-146) pp. 79-89

WEEK 4
7. (1/29) FORCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING (147-165) pp. 89-103
8. (1/31) THE TRUTH OF SELF-CERTAINTY (166-177) pp. 104-111
[GUEST LECTURER: ANTON BARBA-KAY]

WEEK 5
9. (2/5) LORDSHIP AND BONDAGE (150-196) pp. 111-119
10. (2/7) FREEDOM OF SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS (197-230) pp. 119-138

WEEK 6
11. (2/12) THE CERTAINTY AND TRUTH OF REASON (231-239) pp. 139-145 with
Alasdair MacIntyre Hegel on Faces and Skulls (blackboard)
12. (2/14) THE ACTUALIZATION OF RATIONAL SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH
ITS OWN ACTIVITY (347-366) pp. 211-221

WEEK 7
13. (2/19) THE LAW OF THE HEART & VIRTUE AND THE WAY OF THE WORLD (367-
393) pp. 221-235. PAPER TOPI CS DUE
14. (2/21) No Class (Discussion of Paper Topics with TA will be scheduled for the end of the
week)

WEEK 8
15. (2/26) THE SPIRITUAL ANIMAL KINGDOM AND DECEIT (394-418) pp. 236-252
16. (2/28) REASON AS LAWGIVER & REASON AS TESTING LAWS (419-440) pp. 252-
265.

WEEK 9
17. (3/5) PREFACE (26-47), pp. 14-28
18. (3/7) PREFACE (48-72), pp. 28-45. FI NAL PAPERS DUE.