PHL 3920: PHENOMENOLOGY
Peter Gratton, PhD
Class Time, Location: T/R, 10:30-11:45 SN 1019
Office Hours: T/TH 12:00-2:00pm and by appointment
Phenomenology is one the most important movements in philosophy over the last one hundred years. This course will look to understand first what phenomenology is in terms of its founding thinkers, especially Edmund Husserl. We will then move to the important revision to phenomenology in the work of Martin Heidegger and his masterwork Being and Time. No doubt these writings will be at times difficult but I think conceptually not as arduous as Heidegger can make it seem. We then look to texts by Heidegger that seem to turn away from phenomenology and ask why he saw that as a necessary step for the task of thinking.
Please note: the syllabus may change due to various circumstances, including canceled classes due to inclement weather, or a choice to continue to focus on one or more philosopher. This site should be consulted continuously for the most current assignment and evaluation dates.
Thursday, January 5
Introduction to phenomenology
Tuesday, January 10
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Introduction, § 1-4
Recommended:
- Françoise Dastur, Heidegger and the Question of Time, pp. 1-16; 53-70
Thursday, January 12
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Introduction, § 5-8
Recommended:
- Dorothea Frede, “The Question of Being: Heidegger’s Project,” from Cambridge Companion to Heidegger.
Tuesday, January 17
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 1, § 9-11
Thursday, January 19
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 2, § 12-13
Tuesday, January 24
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 3, § 14-16
Thursday, January 27
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 4, § 25-27
Jean-Luc Nancy, “The Being-with of Being-there”
Tuesday, January 31
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 5, § 28-33
Thursday, February 2
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 5, § 33-38
Tuesday, February 7
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 6, § 39-42
*Quiz on German terms: 5 pts.*
Thursday, February 9
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 1, ch. 5, § 43-44
Tuesday, February 14
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 45-48
Thursday, February 16
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 49-53
Exegetical Paper Due
Tuesday, February 21
Winter Break
Thursday, February 23
Winter Break
Tuesday, February 28
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 54-58
Recommended: Piotr Hoffman, “Death, Time, History: Division II of Being and Time“ (from the Cambridge Companion to Heidegger)
Tuesday, March 2
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 59-62
Thursday, March 7
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 63-66
Tuesday, March 12
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 67-69
Tuesday, March 14
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 70-74
Thursday, March 16
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 75-79
Tuesday, March 21
Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Div. 2, § 80-83
Quiz on German terms for Division II. Terms here.
Recommended:
I. Thompson, “What is Ontotheology?”
Thursday, March 23
Martin Heidegger, “Time and Being”
Tuesday, March 28
Martin Heidegger, “Building, Dwelling, Thinking”
Recommended:
Thursday, March 30
Martin Heidegger, Time and Being (all)
Recommended:Françoise Dastur,
Françoise Dastur, Heidegger and the Question of Time, pp. 1-16; 53-70
Tuesday, April 4
Martin Heidegger, “The End of Philosophy and the Task of Thinking”
FINAL PAPER DUE: April 12, 9am
Course Materials 