PHIL 230 - The Frankfurt School

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

This intermediate philosophy course is an introduction to the so-called ‘Frankfurt School’, officially known as “The Institute for Social Research.” Started in Frankfurt in 1930s, and spanning 30+ years, this group of intellectuals worked in Germany, and in exile in England and the United States during the Second World War and following, the institute’s overarching concerns included: providing a critical theory for, and of, society, a critique of ideology, and an assessment of the role and task for philosophy in the 20th century. Areas of their writings that we examine are: social theory, politics, political-economy, aesthetics, and history. Philosophers studied include: Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and fellow traveler Walter Benjamin. Osman Nemli.

Prerequisite(s): One 100-level course in Philosophy, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS