German Literature and Critical Thought 1750-1832 (401-0-1)

Instructors

Peter D Fenves
847/467-2966
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge 3329
Office Hours: Mon, 12 - 1:30 PM and by appointment

Meeting Info

University Library 3622: Mon 1:00PM - 3:50PM

Overview of class

The goal of this seminar is to consider the manner where, when and how aesthetics can function as a critique of political theology. The meaning of each term in this summary—"aesthetic," "critique," and "political theology"—comes under discussion in each stage of the seminar, most especially the last, "political theology." The seminar begins with Carl Schmitt; turns back to Baumgarten and Kant's twin inauguration of aesthetics; examines three attempts to sketch the political dimensions of the Critique of Judgment (Schiller, Arendt, Shell); and concludes with an examination of Schelling's Stuttgart lectures.