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Department of Philosophy
Tuesday
Philosophy Department
Classroom: Seminar Room
(203 Hall Auditorium)
Dr. Costica Bradatan
Office:
221 Hall Auditorium,
Office
Hours: Tuesday
Office
Phone: (513) 529-4739
Email:
bradatc@muohio.edu
Webpage: http://www.users.muohio.edu/bradatc/
Course Description:
This course has a twofold objective. First, it deals with the way in which
(especially) within a utopian/communist system time becomes a political
construct. More specifically, the seminar explores, in an interdisciplinary
manner, how in such a system people’s sense of time is being systematically
disrupted and manipulated through stirring and
maintaining pseudo-Messianic expectations, systematic alterations/updating of
the past, and staging fake outbursts of public frenzy and enthusiasm. Then, as a counterpoint movement, the seminar follows how
various philosophers and moralists living in communist regimes, responded –
through their philosophizing – to such a carefully engineered politics of time.
These are some of the questions to be asked at this stage of the course: To
what extent, in their philosophizing, philosophers and writers realized how
this politics of time worked and what were its main components and forms of
manifestation? How can a philosophical
response to this practice (of controlling people’s sense of time) take shape? And, more broadly, how can a philosophy
or an aesthetic program become a political gesture? By what means a
philosophy/aesthetic program can provide an “ethos/ethic of resistance”? How
can a philosophy inspire/nurture a dissident movement? Are there
(philosophical) ideas to die for? There will be a
number of case studies dedicated to Czechoslovakian, Polish, Russian, and
Yugoslavian thinkers: Jan Patocka, Czeslaw Milosz, Mihail Bakhtin and Milorad Pavic.
Course Rationale:
For someone
interested in philosophy (and especially in metaphilosophy and sociology of philosophy),
this seminar is important for at least two reasons. First, it casts a
meaningful light on the relationship
between politics and philosophy. More precisely, it shows how, in the first
instance, a philosophy (Marx’s and Engels’) is used for founding a political
system (communism), and then how that political system sets the agenda for new
(dissident) philosophies; it shows how certain developments in the sphere of
politics come to have something important to say about the shaping, topics,
thematic repertoire, and the priorities of a philosophy or other. When a given
philosophy comes to oppose a certain politics, it cannot do so by ignoring the
latter’s programs, aims and methods: in order to be efficient, the philosophy
in question must get well acquainted not only with its principles and
ideological core, but also with the culture, way of life, and “rules of the
game” generated by that politics. Secondly, what such an interdisciplinary inquiry into the
relationship between philosophy and dissidence/civic resistance reveals is an
unexpected recurrence, in the modern world, of the ancient topic of “philosophy
as a way of life.” For, ultimately, what some of these dissident philosophers
did was nothing other than translating their philosophical speculations into
meaningful deeds, into civic gestures and exemplary facts of life. Thanks to
having past the test of social reality, their philosophies became systems of
lived ideas.
Course Goals:
·
The course will make students realize the dialectical relationship between philosophy
and politics: philosophy can inspire certain political regimes, which
political regimes, in their turn, generate (official) philosophies of their
own, but also cause the emergence of opposing (dissident) philosophies.
·
By way of consequence, it will point to the fact
that philosophy is not at all isolated,
but deeply interconnected with other disciplinary fields, as well as with the
public sphere.
·
The course will make students realize the broadness,
plurality and diversity, of the philosophical exercise. Philosophical discourse
can take the shape not only of academic texts, but also of political
manifestoes, samizdat letters and articles; philosophical practice means not
only university teaching or institutionalized research, but also running
underground seminars, involvement in civic movements, speeches to dissident
meetings, etc.
·
The course will make students aware of the many ways
in which social time is being produced, of how people’s sense of time can be
interfered with and politically manipulated and also of how a proper sense of
time can be recovered through reflection, art, and social involvement.
·
Situated as it is at the crossroad of philosophy,
religious studies, literature, political theory, film studies and intellectual
history, the course will introduce students to the complexity and charm of interdisciplinary research in
philosophy.
Required Texts:
·
Bakhtin,
Mihail (1981), The dialogic imagination.
Four essays, Edited by Michael Holquist; Translated by Caryl Emerson and
Michael Holquist (
·
Eliade,
Mircea (1971), The Myth of the Eternal
Return or, Cosmos and History,
·
Fitzpatrick,
Sheila (2000), Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Soviet
It is recommended that those books marked with an
asterisk (*) be purchased as they will be used more extensively. You should be
able to find them at the MU Bookstores. Fragments from books marked with ** are on electronic
reserve (Password: phl410).
Course Requirements:
1. Research paper:
The bulk of the final grade (see below “Grading policy”) will be
determined by the quality of the research paper. This piece is the culmination
of students’ work during the whole semester. It must be on a course-related
topic, designed by the student in consultation with the instructor. The
research paper must be conceived of, structured, developed and written in such
a way as to meet the standards of academic excellence in the humanities, and
following the guidelines for submission of written work listed below. The three
stages for the production of this research paper are: a) Submission of proposed
topic, brief description and basic bibliography (1/2 pages). b) Submission of
the first draft (7/8 pages), and c) Submission of the final draft (12/15
pages), at the end of the semester. (For deadlines, please see “General
Schedule of Events” below.)
2. Oral presentation:
Each student is expected to present the reading(s) for at least one
session and then briefly conduct the subsequent discussion. A list of topics
(readings) for which students can volunteer will be circulated at the beginning
of the semester. Each oral presentation will be graded and will count toward
the final grade. A good presentation means: a careful reading of the texts in
question, placing these texts within the context of the author’s work,
rendering the material into a coherent, well-structured, and agreeable form,
and presenting it in a clear manner to the other students attending the class.
For a good – to excellent – oral presentation grade, you are encouraged to read
as much as you can by, and about, the author whose texts you decide to present.
If you make a second presentation during the semester (in addition to the
first), that will be graded separately, and its grade will count toward the
final grade, too. You are encouraged (although not required) to design your research
paper in such a way as to be able to use in it those texts you have read for
preparing your oral presentation.
3. Attendance and
participation in class:
It is imperative that you attend every class. Please do not be late! Any
unexcused absence will have an impact on your class participation/attendance
grade (5% for each absence). After four (4) unexcused absences the instructor
may, at his discretion, recommend the University Registrar to drop the student from the
course. An absence is excused when you provide serious
documented evidence about it (signed note from the physician, signed letter
from the Dean, death notice, etc.) Fore more about class attendance please
consult the 2005-2006 Student Handbook:
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/documents_and_policies/handbook/
(“Class Attendance”). Active participation
in classroom discussions includes (but is not limited to): posing relevant
questions; making informed comments and formulating original points of view,
establishing a fruitful dialogue with the other students during the class, etc.
When formulating your points of view, remarks or comments, please do so in a
respectful manner, in such a way as not to harm the feelings of the other
members of the class.
4. Individual
conferences:
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructor about any
aspects of their work for this class, and in particular about their research
paper. All students taking this course are encouraged to make appointments with
the instructor in order to discuss issues related to the course. The instructor
may ask you to come in at other times for discussing particular issues. Please
feel free to email the instructor whenever you need to discuss with him aspects
of your work.
As the semester progresses each of you must think of
a topic for your research paper. The topic for this final essay is designed by you,
but must be course-related, and discussed with the instructor (on the occasion
of a conferences or just make an appointment!).
Guidelines for
Submission of Written Work:
·
MLA Citation Style
·
Word-process all written work; handwritten papers
will not be accepted;
·
Use standard font, in 12 point; double-spaced.
·
Number your pages;
·
Staple your pages together;
·
At the top of the first page include your name,
date, and essay title;
·
Proofread and spell-check before bringing any papers
to class.
Grading Policy:
·
10% Regular
attendance of seminar meetings.
·
10% Active
participation in classroom discussions
·
20% Oral
presentation.
·
20% First
draft of the research paper
·
40% Final
draft of the research paper
The grades for class attendance and participation will
be determined only after all class meetings take place, at the end of semester.
The grade for the first draft of the research paper will be communicated along
with the instructor’s feedback. The final grade will be determined after you
submit the final draft of the research paper.
University Policies and
Regulations:
The instructor of this course respects and upholds University policies
and regulations pertaining to the observation of religious holidays; assistance
available to the physically handicapped, visually and/or hearing impaired
student; plagiarism; sexual harassment; and racial or ethnic discrimination.
All students are advised to become familiar with the respective University
regulations and are encouraged to bring any questions or concerns to the
attention of the instructor.
Students with
Disabilities:
In compliance with the
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism, or academic theft, is passing off someone else’s work as your
own. Please note: plagiarism simply means using
someone else’s ideas without acknowledging it (no matter if you use that
person’s actual words or not). Regardless of your background, you are
responsible for not plagiarizing. Plagiarism will be prosecuted; it can affect
your permanent record. Being a plagiarizer is incomparably worse than being
unoriginal! For more about plagiarism (and academic dishonesty in general),
please consult 2005-2006 Student Handbook: http://www.miami.muohio.edu/documents_and_policies/handbook/
(“Academic misconduct”)
I. Introductory issues
Week 1:
·
Tuesday (1/10)
o
Topic: Introduction.
o
Film: “Modern Times”
o
Discussion: “Modern Times”
Week 2:
·
Tuesday (1/17)
o
Topic: Social time
(Pre-modern, modern, and post-modern time. Global time. Time and nature/time
and culture. Time and religious rites. Time and technology. Time and art. Time
and social change. Time and politics.)
o
Discussion: What precisely shapes the configuration of a given
social time (religious practices, available technology, scientific discoveries,
cultural background, politics, ideologies, geographical situation, etc)?
o
Film: “Before the Rain”
o
Week 3:
·
Tuesday (1/24)
o
Topic: “Intoxication with time.” (The speed up of the
social rhythms in the xx-th century. Cultural reactions to this phenomenon. New
philosophies of time: Bergson, Heidegger, phenomenology. New arts and
disciplines of time: cinema, psychoanalysis, etc.)
o
Film: “Run, Lola, Run”
o
Week 4:
·
Tuesday (1/31)
o
Topic: Time and
revolution. (The end of the world/the birth of a new world. The anatomy of the
revolutionary time. The new time and the old time. The possibility of novelty.
Catastrophe, Revolution, Apocalypse. Theology of revolution.)
o
Discussion: The time of the rich – the time of the poor.
o
Film: “The Battleship Potemkin”
o
II. The political
production of time
Week 5:
·
Tuesday (2/7)
o
Topic: The future (“In the name of the future.” Waiting
for Messiah. Marx’s Messianic time. The future in the works of Marx, Engels and
Lenin. The future as a legitimating factor of revolution. The end of history.
Post-historical happiness)
o
Discussion: The significance/importance of social dreams and
utopias. The dangers behind them.
o
Film: “Good bye, Lenin”
o
Week 6:
·
Tuesday (2/14)
o
Topic: The past
I (“Getting rid of all the muck of ages.” Updating the past. Using and abusing
the past. “Who controls the past controls the future.” Memory and community.
Erasing the past as a means of the regime to eternalize itself.)
o
Discussion: “The future is foreseeable. What is really
unforeseeable is the past.”
o
Film: “Burnt by the Sun”
o
Deadline!
Submission of topic, brief description and basic
bibliography for the research paper.
Week 7:
·
Tuesday (2/22) No classes (Monday/Tuesday Class Exchange Day: Monday classes meet this day)
Week 8:
·
Tuesday (2/28)
o
Topic: The past II. (The paradoxical conservatism of
communist societies. Their refuge into the past. Constant discouragement of
novelties in art, science, social organization, etc. The past and the failure
of the revolution.)
o
Film: “Pretty villages, pretty flames”
o
Week 9:
·
Tuesday (3/7)
o
Topic: The present I (“Permanent revolution,” “Planned
heroism,” “Socialist emulation,” Stakhanovism. Defying and compressing time:
the Five-Year Plan fulfilled in four years. Faking enthusiasm.)
o
Discussion: “Socialist emulation”! capitalist market
o
Film: “The Man of Marble”
o
Spring Break
·
Tuesday (3/14)
o
No classes.
Week 10:
·
Tuesday (3/21)
o
Topic: The
present II (The frozen time of the everyday life. The 30’ in
o
Film: “Guantanamera”
o
Discussion: Time in today’s
o
Deadline!
Submission of first draft of the research paper.
III. The time of the
philosophers and artists
Week 11:
·
Tuesday (3/28)
o
Topic: The relationship philosophy/politics (Knowledge
and power. Philosophers’ love for politics from Plato to Heidegger. The
Heidegger case. Philosophy and the founding of totalitarian regimes. Philosophy
and the undermining of totalitarian regimes. Philosophy as social criticism.)
o
Film: “Life of David Gale”
o
Discussion: “Life of David Gale”
o
Week 12:
·
Tuesday (4/4)
o
Topic: Patocka (Philosophers and dissidents in
o
Film: “The Experiment”
o
Discussion: Are there (philosophical) ideas to die for?
o
Week 13:
·
Tuesday (4/11)
o
Topic: Milosz (Politics and poetry. Fidelity and Betrayal.
Forms of resistance. The politics of truth. The anatomy of the captive mind.)
o
Film: “Blind chance”
o
Week 14:
·
Tuesday (4/18)
o
Topic: Bakhtin (Chronotope. Time and space in the novel.
Time and polyphony. Time and the distinction dialogism/monologism. Life vs.
Art.)
o
Film: “Repentance”
o
Discussion: Evading life through fiction.
o
Week 15:
·
Tuesday (4/25)
o
Topic: Milorad
Pavic (Imagination and sanity. Resistance through magical realism. The politics
of fiction. Fictionalizing history. The anarchy of meaning. The alternative
pasts.)
o
Film: “Underground”
o
Deadline!
Submission of research paper (final version).
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