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Unit of study_

PHIL2648: 19th C. Philosophy: Kant to Nietzsche

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit surveys the history of 19th Century philosophy, from Kant and idealism to Nietzsche and existentialism. The first half examines Kant's "Copernican revolution" in philosophy, and the critical responses to Kant's project in the work of Fichte, Schelling and Hegel. The second half investigates the critique of idealism in the works of Kierkegaard, Dosteovsky and Nietzsche. Throughout, questions of science, morals and politics, art, education, and religion will be considered.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHIL2648
Academic unit Philosophy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
PHIL2641 or PHIL3011
Prerequisites
? 
12 Junior credit points in Philosophy
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Dalia Nassar, dalia.nassar@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final project
2500wd Final project
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 23 Nov 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Dec 2021
2500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Weekly reflections
tutorial presentation
15% Week 02
Closing date: 17 Dec 2021
5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Midterm essay
2000wd Midterm essay
35% Week 08
Due date: 28 Sep 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Dec 2021
2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  1. tutorial presentation
  2. midterm essay (2000 words)
  3. final project (2500 words)

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 introduction Block teaching (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 02 Kant and the construction of nature Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Kant and the problem of knowledge Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 rethinking the critical project Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 intuitive understanding Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 philosophy of nature 1 Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 philosophy of nature 2 Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 the fragment Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 the aesthetic foundations of the state Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 alienation and struggle Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 intersecting struggles Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Nietzsche and nihilism Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
philosophy and the "woman" question Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Students are required to participate in tutorials.

Students are required to do the reading prior to the lecture and tutorials. Some of the readings are challenging, but don’t give up, it’s very helpful for you to have read them before we discuss them. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

Students are required to turn in a weekly reflection beginning in Week 2 of the semester. The weekly reflection should be focused on the reading, and should be composed of one to two pointed questions that interrogate the content of the reading. This means that questions such as “When was Kant born?” or “Why does Kant think this?” are inadequate. The first does not concern the content of the reading, the second is too general. The kind of question you want to pose should look like this: “How does Kant justify the distinction between synthetic and analytic forms of judgment?” (Do not use this question in your weekly reflection on Kant!)

Weekly reflections should be handed in through Canvas no later than 11.59pm on the Monday preceding the lecture.

MIDTERM ESSAY

More information will be made available through Canvas

FINAL PROJECT

More information will be made available through Canvas

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please refer to Reading List in the Canvas website and to the “reading list” under Modules. 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. An understanding of the development of philosophy in the 19th century
  • LO2. A grasp of key movements from romanticism and idealism, to socialism, feminism and existentialism.
  • LO3. An understanding of central themes and concepts in 19th century philosophy, including knowledge, nature, freedom, justice, and God.
  • LO4. Insights into meta-theoretical questions concerning the historiography of philosophy, and the ways in which canon-formation determines the meaning of 'philosophy' itself.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit has not been offered since 2016, and has since that time been significantly revised in light of developments in research in the history of nineteenth-century philosophy.

Work, health and safety

Please follow University and NSW health guidelines for all health related matters.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.