European Intellectual History since Nietzsche

“When they stormed the Bastille they forgot the Sorbonne.”—Hélène Cixous, 1998. HIST 271/HUMS 339: European Intellectual History since Nietzsche is a survey course designed to introduce students to the dominant trends in modern European intellectual history. The class aims to sketch a narrative arc from the late 18th century transition to modernity through the late 20th century transition to post-modernity. Following an overview of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, we move through Hegelianism and Marxism and then on to Nietzsche’s declaration of the death of God. (God had been multifunctional, fulfilling epistemological, ontological and ethical roles. His death left an enormous empty space. Much of modern thought could be described as an attempt to replace God.) Topics include Marxism-Leninism, psychoanalysis, expressionism, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, anti-politics, and deconstruction. Authors include Nietzsche, Lenin, Kafka, Freud, Husserl, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Arendt, Adorno, Sartre, Girard, Foucault, Derrida and Havel. With Marci Shore, Associate Professor of History at Yale. This lecture is also available to watch on YouTube.

“In the hut’s book, glancing towards the well’s star, in the hope of a word to come.”—Paul Celan, 1966. HIST 271/HUMS 339: European Intellectual History since Nietzsche is a survey course designed to introduce students to the dominant trends in modern European intellectual history. The class aims to sketch a narrative arc from the late 18th century transition to modernity through the late 20th century transition to post-modernity. Following an overview of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, we move through Hegelianism and Marxism and then on to Nietzsche’s declaration of the death of God. (God had been multifunctional, fulfilling epistemological, ontological and ethical roles. His death left an enormous empty space. Much of modern thought could be described as an attempt to replace God.) Topics include Marxism-Leninism, psychoanalysis, expressionism, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, anti-politics, and deconstruction. Authors include Nietzsche, Lenin, Kafka, Freud, Husserl, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Arendt, Adorno, Sartre, Girard, Foucault, Derrida and Havel. With Marci Shore, Associate Professor of History at Yale. This lecture is also available to watch on YouTube.

“In the post-totalitarian system, this line runs de facto through each person, for everyone in his or her own way is both a victim and a supporter of the system.”—Václav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless.” HIST 271/HUMS 339: European Intellectual History since Nietzsche is a survey course designed to introduce students to the dominant trends in modern European intellectual history. The class aims to sketch a narrative arc from the late 18th century transition to modernity through the late 20th century transition to post-modernity. Following an overview of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, we move through Hegelianism and Marxism and then on to Nietzsche’s declaration of the death of God. (God had been multifunctional, fulfilling epistemological, ontological and ethical roles. His death left an enormous empty space. Much of modern thought could be described as an attempt to replace God.) Topics include Marxism-Leninism, psychoanalysis, expressionism, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, anti-politics, and deconstruction. Authors include Nietzsche, Lenin, Kafka, Freud, Husserl, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Arendt, Adorno, Sartre, Girard, Foucault, Derrida and Havel. With Marci Shore, Associate Professor of History at Yale. This lecture is also available to watch on YouTube.

Explore the fascinating world of French post-structuralism, particularly Derrida's groundbreaking concept of deconstruction. Delve into how this idea challenges traditional binaries and reshapes our understanding of language. Discover the complex interplay of friendship and betrayal between Derrida and Paul de Man, and ponder the political implications of deconstruction as a resistance against absolute truths. This engaging discussion invites listeners to embrace the fluidity of meaning and the creativity that emerges from uncertainty.

Dive into the intricate world of Michel Foucault’s theories, where power weaves through our understanding of modernity and post-modernity. Explore the tensions between language and reality, and how post-modernism challenges stable truths. Discover Foucault's critique of individualism and the influence on historical narratives. Delve into the societal impact of the AIDS epidemic on public discourse. Finally, examine the fluid connections between power, sexuality, and knowledge, ultimately questioning fixed truths and identities.

“Violence is the heart and secret soul of the sacred.”—René Girard, Violence and the Sacred. HIST 271/HUMS 339: European Intellectual History since Nietzsche is a survey course designed to introduce students to the dominant trends in modern European intellectual history. The class aims to sketch a narrative arc from the late 18th century transition to modernity through the late 20th century transition to post-modernity. Following an overview of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, we move through Hegelianism and Marxism and then on to Nietzsche’s declaration of the death of God. (God had been multifunctional, fulfilling epistemological, ontological and ethical roles. His death left an enormous empty space. Much of modern thought could be described as an attempt to replace God.) Topics include Marxism-Leninism, psychoanalysis, expressionism, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, anti-politics, and deconstruction. Authors include Nietzsche, Lenin, Kafka, Freud, Husserl, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Arendt, Adorno, Sartre, Girard, Foucault, Derrida and Havel. With Marci Shore, Associate Professor of History at Yale. This lecture is also available to watch on YouTube.

Delve into the world of structuralism and its profound impact on anthropology and linguistics. Discover how key philosophical shifts responded to the decline of religious authority and led to existential crises. Explore a visionary’s dream of Esperanto, aiming to unite cultures amid strife. Uncover crucial concepts like semiotics and the interconnectedness of signs within social systems. Lastly, experience the evolution of structuralism through a linguist's journey amidst early 20th-century upheaval, revealing the dynamic relationship between language and culture.

Discover the evolution of revisionist Marxism in post-WWII Eastern Europe, where existentialist thought reshaped traditional ideologies. Explore the gripping tale of a tortured writer in Ukraine, highlighting the psychological struggles between captor and captive. Delve into Khrushchev's Secret Speech, a pivotal moment that challenged Stalinism. The journey also revisits the essence of Marxism, emphasizing the tension between individual agency and systemic forces, while reflecting on the resilient spirits navigating political upheaval.

Dive into the philosophical depths of intersubjectivity and its evolution from object-oriented views to relational dynamics. Discover the profound journey of a thinker who transitions through faith and war to embrace phenomenology while searching for truth. Explore existential thought through the master-slave dialectic, emphasizing recognition and ethical connections. Levinas's insights on self and other challenge us to rethink relationships, blending ethics with our understanding of existence in a world marked by complexity and alienation.

Explore Simone de Beauvoir's groundbreaking ideas on subjectivity and existentialism. Dive into her critique of traditional roles and the evolution of women's identities in society. Unpack the moral dilemmas faced in times of war, examining the tension between cowardice and honor. Delve into the shifting dynamics of gender and freedom, highlighting the importance of mutual recognition in challenging patriarchal norms. The discussion intricately weaves personal narratives with profound philosophical insights, revealing the complexities of identity and relationships.