German Romanticism: Literature, Philosophy, Science Hist. 25401; 35401 CHSS 42400 Philos.20701; 30700 HiPSS 26801 German 47000 Instructor: Robert J. Richards Assistant: Charles Todd I. Books: Books for the course are available in the Seminary Co-operative Bookstore (5757 University Ave.). They are the following: A. Required reading: Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Faust Part One, translated by David Luke (Oxford) Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Sorrows of Young Werther, translated by Mayer and Bogen (Vintage Classics) Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Selected Verse, ed. and trans. David Luke (Penguin) Kant, Immanuel, Critique of Judgment, trans. Werner Pluhar (Hackett) Novalis, Hymns to the Night (McPherson & Co.) Schleiermacher, Friedrich, On Religion (Cambridge) B. 2 Packets of Photocopies: Selected Readings in German Romanticism and Secondary Readings (available for purchase in the Fishbein Center, Social Science Building, rm. 207). C. Recommended but not required: Robert J. Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life: Science and Philosophy in the Age of Goethe (Chicago). Paul Guyer (ed.), Cambridge Companion to Kant (Cambridge) D. For those who wish to try their hand Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Faust, Erster und Zweiter Teil (Deutscher Taschenbuch) Goethe Johann Wolfgang von, Die Leiden des jungen Werther (Deutscher Taschenbuch) Kant, Immanuel, Kritik der Urteilskraft (Suhrkamp) Schleiermacher, Friedrich, Ueber die Religion (Felix Meiner) 1
II. Requirements: 1. Each student must read all the material under the heading "texts for discussion." The recommended reading should also be done, though perhaps with somewhat less assiduity. (Each Roman numeral represents a week of the quarter.) 2. On the Monday prior to each class, you should send to the instructor via the Chalk Drop Box a one or two page essay. The essay should be the answer to a question you have posed concerning some aspect of the reading for that week. The question might be suggested by the secondary reading, or by something that seems puzzling in the primary reading. Absolutely no longer than two pages. You should mark clearly on the paper whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, and that designation should be part of the file you upload to the drop box. 3. For undergraduates, a 10-15 page paper will be due on Friday, March 10, by 12:00 p.m., in the Fishbein Center (Social Science Building, room 205). For graduate students, something a bit more ambitious, but due at the same time and place as the undergraduate papers. The topic will be of your own choosing. 4. There will be a final take-home exam with one question: What constitutes Romantic thought in Germany at the turn of the century? In answering this question, you should include instances taken from the primary reading for the course. You may answer the question as you see fit, but your answer should be no longer than five double-spaced pages. This exam should be turned in to the secretary in Social Sciences 207 by Thursday, March 16th at noon. Papers should be stapled and double spaced. Be sure to keep copies of all your written work (required). III. Office hours and communication Office hours will be held in Social Sciences 205 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., and by appointment. Phone: 702-8348; Email: r- richards@uchicago.edu 2
Schedule of Discussions I. Introduction A. Lecture: Scope and Nature of Romanticism. 1. Isaiah Berlin, AThe Counter-Enlightenment,@ in his Against the Current. In Secondary Readings in German Romanticism. 2. Robert Richards, APrologue,@ and Chap. 1 of The Romantic Conception of Life. II. The Prelude: Sturm und Drang A. A. Text for discussion: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sorrows of Young Werther. 1. Hans Reiss, ADie Leiden des jungen Werthers,@ in Goethe=s Novels. In Secondary Readings in German Romanticism. 2. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 17-23; chap. 10, pp. 325-54. III. Kant and Herder A. Lecture: Kant=s Critique of Pure Reason. B. Texts for discussion: 1. J. G. Herder, Reflections on the Philosophy of the History of Mankind (1784-91). In Readings in German Romanticism. 2. Immanuel Kant, AReview of Herder=s Reflections.@ In Readings in German Romanticism. C. Recommended reading: 1. Charles Parsons, AThe Transcendental Aesthetic,@ Cambridge Companion to Kant. 2. Paul Guyer, AThe Transcendnetal Deduction of the Categories,@ The Cambridge Companion to Kant. 3
3. John Zammito, Method versus Manner : Kant s Critique of Herder s Ideen in the Light of the Epoch of Science, 1790-1820, Herder Yearbook (1998). In Secondary Readings in German Romanticism. IV. Kant=s Critique of Judgment: Aesthetic Judgment Immanuel Kant, Critique of Judgment, '1-22 (pp. 43-95); '23-24, 28-29 (pp. 97-101, 119-26); '41-50 (pp. 163-89). 1. Translator s AIntroduction@ to the Critique of Judgment, pp. xxiii-cix. 2. Eva Schaper, Taste, Sublimity, and Genius: The Aesthetics of Nature and Art, Cambridge Companion to Kant. 3. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, pp. 62-71. V. Kant=s Critique of Judgment: Teleological Judgment Immanuel Kant, Critique of the Power of Judgment, '61-70, 75-78, 80-83 (pp. 235-68, 280-300, 303-21). 1. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 5. 2. Frederick Beiser, Kant and the Naturphilosophen, in his The Romantic Imperative (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2003). VI. Romantic Poetry 1. Selections of Goethe=s Poetry (mostly from Selected Verse; translations are also in this volume): AWillkommen und Abschied@ (pp. 9-10); AHeidenroselein@ (pp. 10-11); AGanymed@ (pp. 15-16); APrometheus@ (pp. 17-19); AWanders Nachlied, I and II@ (pp. 49-50); AAn den Mond@ (two versions, pp. 50-54); ABin so in Lieb...@ (p. 75); AErlkönig@ (pp. 80-82); AKennst du das Land...@ (pp. 85-86); ANur wer die Sehnsuch kennt...@ (p. 87); ARömische Elegien@ (in Selected 4
Readings in German Romanticism); ANatur und Kunst@ (p. 197); ADas Tagebuch@ (pp. 202-211); and AGefunden@ (p. 218). 2. Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), Hymns to the Night 1. Robert Tobin, AIn and Against Nature: Goethe on Homosexuality and Heterosexuality,@ in Outing Goethe and His Age, ed. A. Kuzniar. In Secondary Readings. 2. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 23-36; chap. 10, pp. 355-406. 3. Frederick Beiser, The Meaning of Romantic Poetry, in his The Romantic Imperative (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2003). In Secondary Readings. VII. Goethe=s Faust A. Texts for Discussion: Goethe=s Faust, part 1. B. Recommended Reading: 1. Translator=s Introduction. 2. Goethe on Faust. In Secondary Readings in German Romanticism. 3. Comments by Contemporaries. In Secondary Readings in German Romanticism. VIII. Aesthetic Theory 1. Goethe=s theory of art: ASimple Imitation, Manner, Style.@ In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 2. Friedrich Schiller: ANaive and Sentimental Poetry,@ selections. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 3. Friedrich Schlegel et al. Athenaeum Fragments (1-6, 22, 34, 116-21, 252, 281). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 4. Friedrich Schlegel, Dialogue on Poetry, selections. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 5
1. Ernst Behler, The Theory of Romantic Poetry, in his German Romantic Literary Theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 2. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp 36-59; 105-113; chap. 4; chap. 11, pp. 407-34. IX. Grounding Philosophy of German Romanticism: Idealism and Naturphilosophie 1. Anonymous [Schelling?], AThe Oldest Systematic Program of German Idealism,@ in Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 2. J. G. Ficthe, A Crystal Clear Report to the General Public Concerning the Acutal Essence of the Newest Philosophy. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 3. F. W. J. Schelling, AIntroduction@ to Ideas on a Philosophy of Nature. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. 4. F. W. J. Schelling, ADeduction of a Universal Organ of Philosophy, or Main Propositons of the Philosophy of Art.@ In Selected Readings in German Romanticism. B. Recommended Reading: 1. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 72-90; and chap.3. 2, Beiser, The Paradox of Romantic Metaphysics, in his Romantic Imperative. In Secondary Readings. X. Romantic Approach to Religon 1. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion, first, second, and third speeches. 2. Heinrich von Kleist, AThe Earthquake in Chile.@ In Selected 6
Readings in German Romanticism. B. Recommended Reading: Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 94-105. 7