Reading Hannah Ardent

                                            Spring 2007

                                         Masaryk University

                                    Instructor: Laura Bunt, PhD

                Email: LauraBunt@yahoo.com, Office Number: 3.57, Phone: 549.491.942

                        Office Hours: 6-7 PM Wednesdays (or by appointment)

   

   

   Course Description:

   Hannah Arendt is hailed as one of the twentieth century’s greatest philosophers.  Her thought
   is strikingly original and disturbingly unorthodox.  Yet, while she is recognized as a
   foremost philosopher, her contribution to social critique is all but ignored in the social
   sciences, although her thought was formulated in reaction to the most prominent political
   thinkers of the modern era:  Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Heidegger.

   

   In her own way, Arendt created a distinct form of social theorization which engages a broad
   range of philosophical, existential, and political themes.  In this course, through a close
   reading of selections from her central texts, namely, The Origins of Totalitarianism, The
   Human Condition, Eichmann in Jerusalem, Men in Dark Times and On Revolution, we will attempt
   to unravel the nature of her political and philosophical thought paying particular attention
   to her treatment of:  anti-Semitism, race, imperialism, totalitarianism, labor, and the
   meaning of democratic forms of government.  In the first essay assignment, students will be
   encouraged to employ the discussion generated in class to contemporary political and social
   issues.  The second essay assignment will concern how Arendt’s work can be applied to social
   theorization or empirical investigation in the context of the Czech Republic.

   

                                          COURSE READINGS

   Primary Texts by Hannah Arendt:

   

     o The Origins of Totalitarianism
     o The Human Condition

   ·         Eichmann in Jerusalem

     o Men in Dark Times
     o On Revolution

   

   Secondary Sources

     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva
     o Why Arendt Matters, By Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

   

   Course Requirements

   Students must produce TWO 8-10 page essays based upon the reading and class discussions. 
   Instructor will assign essay questions in advance of due dates.  Student are also required to
   write TWO 1 page response papers.

   

   

COURSE RULES

   Students are expected to come to class having already read the readings cited on the syllabus
   for that day. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY, ROLE WILL BE TAKEN IN EVERY CLASS.  Students are
   allowed only TWO undocumented absences.  Any student missing more than 3 classes without a
   documented (i.e. medical or family) emergency will be dropped from the class without
   exception. (Students observing religious holidays are excused from class, but please inform
   instructor in advance).

   

   This course is intended as a seminar, rather than a lecture course. Students’ work consists of
   intensive reading of required texts and active participation in the class discussions.
   Students are graded on the basis of their performance in class, the quality of their oral
   presentation, and the writing of  assigned essays.



COURSE GRADING POLICY

   50% Essay Assignments

   50% Class Attendance

   

Course READINGS & OUTLINE

All reading is available online through the university system, please come to class with a copy of
the reading materials printed for discussion.

   

   Week 1:  Introduction

   

   Week 2:

     o The Origins of Totalitarianism: PART I
     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva

   

   Week 3:

     o The Origins of Totalitarianism: PART II
     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva

   

   Week 4:

     o FIRST RESPONSE PAPER DUE IN CLASS

     o The Origins of Totalitarianism: PART III
     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva

   

   Week 5:

     o The Human Condition: PART I & II

     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva

   

   Week 6:

     o FIRST ESSAY QUESTION HANDED OUT

     o The Human Condition: PART III & IV

     o Hannah Arendt, By Julia Kristeva

   

   Week 7:  NO CLASS, READING WEEK

   

Week 8: 

·         FIRST ESSAY DUE IN CLASS

     o The Human Condition: PART V & VI
     o Why Arendt Matters, By Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

   

   Week 9:

     o Eichmann in Jerusalem: pgs. 3-134
     o Why Arendt Matters, By Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

   Week 10:

     o Eichmann in Jerusalem: pgs. 135-194
     o Why Arendt Matters, By Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

   

   Week 11:

     o SECOND RESPONSE PAPER DUE IN CLASS

     o Eichmann in Jerusalem: pgs. 195-254
     o Why Arendt Matters, By Elisabeth Young-Bruehl

   

   Week 12::

    ·         On Revolution:  Chapter 1 (pgs. 21-58), “The Meaning of Revolution”& Chapter 4 (pgs.
    143-172), “What is Freedom?”

   

    Week 13:

     o Men in Dark Times: pgs. 3-32 (Lessing), pgs. 71-94 (Jaspers)

   

    Week 14:

   ·         SECOND ESSAY QUESTION HANDED OUT

     o Men in Dark Times: pgs. 95- 110 (Dinesen), pgs. 153-206 (Benjamin)

   

  

  FINAL ESSAY DUE AT END OF EXAMINE PERIOD