SOCn5031 Contemporary Critical Theory and Phenomenology

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Katarína Azzamová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:40 P24b
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(N)
Basic knowledge of sociological theories is presupposed.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 15/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is a seminar that aims to understand contemporary theoretical texts by authors who subscribe to critical theory and critical phenomenology. Its framework is hermeneutic and emphasizes the practice of interpretation and reflexive judgment. Through this process, we will interpret theoretical texts and debate our interpretations. We will identify themes and statements in the texts, reconstruct and clarify their meanings by contextualizing them within different perspectives, theoretical traditions and dialogues between interpretations. This will allow us to practice our ability to interpret documents, statements and narratives in a way that allows us to draw reasonable conclusions, especially in situations where certainty cannot be achieved. The hermeneutic practice of interpretation involves recognising and accepting uncertainty and actively making judgments and decisions based on available symptoms, meanings and context.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge of the basic analytical apparatus of contemporary theoretical sociology. Ability to critically interpret and apply articles published in academic journals for own research. Ability to employ relevant analytical apparatus for explaining various social phenomena.
Syllabus
  • 15.09.2025 Úvod: o konfliktech a dialogu mezi interpretacemi
  • - Melançon, Jérôme. 2014. “Thinking Corporeally, Socially, and Politically: Critical Phenomenology after Merleau-Ponty and Bourdieu.” Bulletin d’Analyse Phénoménologique.
  • 22.09.2025 Hermeneutická interpretace a současný kontext raného 21. století
  • - Blühdorn, Ingolfur. 2025. “Ecological Ungovernability and the Transition to Postliberal Modernity: On the Dialectic of the Eco-Emancipatory Project.” European Journal of Social Theory 13684310251330872. doi: 10.1177/13684310251330872.
  • - Ransom, Tailer G., and Shaun Gallagher. 2020. “Institutions and Other Things: Critical Hermeneutics, Postphenomenology and Material Engagement Theory.” AI & SOCIETY.
  • 29.09.2025 Reflexivní soud a historický kontext raného 20. století
  • - Dallmayr, F. R. 1976. “Phenomenology and Critical Theory: Adorno.” Philosophy & Social Criticism [Cultural Hermeneutics] 3(4):367–405.
  • - Ricoeur, Paul. 1991. “Hermeneutics and the Critique of Ideology.” Pp. 270–307 in From Text to Action: Essays in Hermeneutics II. Evanston: Northwestern University Press.
  • 06.10.2025 Kritická teorie jako diagnoza krize I.
  • - Reckwitz, Andreas, and Hartmut Rosa. 2023. Late Modernity in Crisis: Why We Need a Theory of Society. Cambridge, UK ; Hoboken, NJ: Polity Press.
  • 13.10.2025 Kritická teorie jako diagnoza krize II.
  • - Reckwitz, Andreas, and Hartmut Rosa. 2023. Late Modernity in Crisis: Why We Need a Theory of Society. Cambridge, UK ; Hoboken, NJ: Polity Press.
  • 20.10.2025 Kritická teorie jako imanentní kritika sociální reality I.
  • - Jaeggi, Rahel. 2018. Critique of Forms of Life. Cambridge (Mass.): The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
  • 27.10.2025 Čtecí týden
  • 3.11.2025. Kritická teorie jako imanentní kritika sociální reality II.
  • - Jaeggi, Rahel. 2018. Critique of Forms of Life. Cambridge (Mass.): The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
  • 10.11.2025 Kritická fenomenologie a problematizace kritiky
  • - Guenther, Lisa. 2021. “Six Senses of Critique for Critical Phenomenology.” Journal of Critical Phenomenology 4(2):5–23.
  • 24.11.2025 Kritická fenomenologie a problematizace identity
  • - Mattingly, Cheryl. 2024. “Identity Perplexity, Stigma, and Social Critique: Critical Phenomenology with an Errant Twist.” Anthropological Theory 14634996241292395. doi: 10.1177/14634996241292395.
  • 01.12.2025 Kritická fenomenologie a problematizace modernity
  • - Toadvine, Ted. 2021. “Climate Collapse, Judgment Day, and the Temporal Sublime.” Journal of Critical Phenomenology 4(2):127–43.
  • 08.12.2025 Kritická fenomenologie a problematizace zdravého rozumu žitého světa
  • - Zahavi, Dan, and Sophie Loidolt. 2022. “Critical Phenomenology and Psychiatry.” Continental Philosophy Review 55(1):55–75.
Literature
    required literature
  • Dallmayr, F. R. 1976. “Phenomenology and Critical Theory: Adorno.” Philosophy & Social Criticism [Cultural Hermeneutics] 3(4):367–405.
  • Zahavi, Dan, and Sophie Loidolt. 2022. “Critical Phenomenology and Psychiatry.” Continental Philosophy Review 55(1):55–75.
  • Blühdorn, Ingolfur. 2025. “Ecological Ungovernability and the Transition to Postliberal Modernity: On the Dialectic of the Eco-Emancipatory Project.” European Journal of Social Theory 13684310251330872. doi: 10.1177/13684310251330872.
  • - Toadvine, Ted. 2021. “Climate Collapse, Judgment Day, and the Temporal Sublime.” Journal of Critical Phenomenology 4(2):127–43.
  • - Mattingly, Cheryl. 2024. “Identity Perplexity, Stigma, and Social Critique: Critical Phenomenology with an Errant Twist.” Anthropological Theory 14634996241292395. doi: 10.1177/14634996241292395.
  • Guenther, Lisa. 2021. “Six Senses of Critique for Critical Phenomenology.” Journal of Critical Phenomenology 4(2):5–23.
  • Ricoeur, Paul. 1991. “Hermeneutics and the Critique of Ideology.” Pp. 270–307 in From Text to Action: Essays in Hermeneutics II. Evanston: Northwestern University Press.
  • Melançon, Jérôme. 2014. “Thinking Corporeally, Socially, and Politically: Critical Phenomenology after Merleau-Ponty and Bourdieu.” Bulletin d’Analyse Phénoménologique.
  • - Ransom, Tailer G., and Shaun Gallagher. 2020. “Institutions and Other Things: Critical Hermeneutics, Postphenomenology and Material Engagement Theory.” AI & SOCIETY.
  • RECKWITZ, Andreas and Hartmut ROSA. Late modernity in crisis : why we need a theory of society. Translated by Valentine A. Pakis. English edition. Cambridge: Polity, 2023, vi, 218. ISBN 9781509556304. info
  • JAEGGI, Rahel. Critique of forms of life. Translated by Ciaran Cronin. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2018, xx, 395. ISBN 9780674737754. info
Teaching methods
Seminar.
Assessment methods
Requirements:
Only careful reading of both texts before the seminar by each participant will allow the discussion to be fruitful, creative and attractive. Short (1-2 pages) position papers must be submitted 8 hours before the start of the seminars. Short reports evaluating the discussion (1-2 pages) must be submitted 48 hours after the seminars. Students will create a study diary from these texts, which they will submit during the exam period.

Scoring (max 100, min. 60):
Seminar activity: 40 points
Study diary: 20 points
Collective oral exam (colloquium with the participation of 5 students): 40 points
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
General note: Předmět nebude vyučován pokud si ho zapíše méně než 5 studujících.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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