Skip to main content
Unit of study_

PHIL3682: Romanticism

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This course examines the development of a major movement in 19th century philosophy: Romanticism. Topics to be considered include: the relation between art, nature and scientific knowledge, the meaning of human freedom, scepticism and the idea of a 'system' of knowledge.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHIL3682
Academic unit Philosophy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12cp at 2000 level 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
Lecturer(s) Dalia Nassar, dalia.nassar@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final Essay
Final essay, which will cover the second part of the semester.
50% STUVAC
Due date: 25 Nov 2020 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Midterm essay
Midterm essay, which will cover the first 6 weeks of the semester.
50% Week 07
Due date: 13 Oct 2020 at 23:39
2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Assessment summary

Essay should be ca 2000 words, and submitted online via Canvas/Turnitin. Essay is worth 50% of the final mark.

 

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

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.

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 to Romanticism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Kant: Organisms and Mechanisms Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Kant: Biology and its Philosophical Foundations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 Herder: The Analogy of Nature Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 05 Herder: Reason and History Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Herder: The Origin of Language & The Idea of a "World" Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Goethe: The Metamorphosis of Plants Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Goethe and Kant: Intuitive Understanding and the Significance of Poetry Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 10 Alexander von Humboldt: Geography of Plants and Landscape Painting Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Alexander von Humboldt: Embodied Aesthetics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Alexander von Humboldt: The Idea of Cosmos Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Conclusions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Due to COVID-19 pandemic attendance requirements are suspended.

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

Kant, Critique of the Power of Judgment (selections)

Kant, “Herder Review”

Herder, Outlines of a History of Humanity (parts 2 and 3 – different translations)

Herder, “Essay on the Origin of Language”

Goethe, Metamorphosis of Plants (the essay)

Goethe, “Metamorphosis of Plants” (the poem)

Goethe, Scientific Studies (selections)

A von Humboldt, “Introduction” to Aspects of Nature

A von Humboldt, “On Steppes and Deserts,” in Aspects of Nature

A von Humboldt, “Essay on the Physiognomy of Plants,” in Aspects of Nature

A von Humboldt, “Introduction” to Cosmos

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. Understanding the philosophical foundations of romanticism
  • LO2. Awareness of key issues within philosophical romanticism and their contemporary relevance
  • LO3. Understanding the historical emergence of romanticism as a philosophical movement
  • LO4. Understanding the ways in which artistic ways of knowledge, and the arts more generally, influenced approaches to the study of the natural world
  • LO5. Developing a well-reasoned argument and articulating it clearly.
  • LO6. Identifying material relevant for your argument by accessing databases and/or archives, and synthesizing the material in a coherent manner.
  • LO7. Improved ability to engage in critical thinking and distinction-making
  • LO8. Improved ability to read and understand primary texts

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 is the first time this unit has been offered.

Course reader available in hardcopy from the University Copy Centre.

All readings are also available via the Library’s E-Reserve.

Work, health and safety

Due to COVID-19 lectures for this unit are offered online.  Some tutorials are offered on Campus, unless return-to-campus roadmap changes.  Please take all due precautions.

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.