Not offered 2007-2008
PHIL 393 Hegel: Freedom and History
Hegel pointed out that although freedom is one of our highest values, it is "open to the greatest misconceptions." This remains true today: although appeals to freedom are used to
justify governments, institutions, policies, and practices (and to sell cars, soft drinks, and
rock-n-roll), those making and responding to such appeals rarely thematize freedom explicitly, much less adequately. This has the ironic (and perhaps dangerous) consequence of making our culture one in which people follow appeals to freedom unfreely, without knowing
what freedom is or why it is worth pursuing.
This course will begin with the Philosophy of Right, in which Hegel critiques the most powerful "misconceptions" of freedom (those of liberalism and Kant), and develops a new conception that grounds his own social and political philosophy. We will then read the Philosophy of History, in which Hegel interprets history as the temporal process whereby humans
come to understand their freedom and actualize it in the world.
Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: Two short papers, one longer paper, regular and
active participation.
Prerequisites: Philosophy 101, or Philosophy 102. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 15). Preference given to Philosophy majors.
DUDLEY