Modernity is usually understood from the perspective that science and technology allow successful control over processes in the domains of nature, society and psyche. As a consequence humans are no longer immersed in an extrinsically given world order, in which their identity is determined by the place they take in their by traditions governed communities. They see themselves as beings that can shape the specific lives they live by themselves. One of the ways in which then one’s identity may find expression is a life story. In the modern era the psychological novel arises, in which contingent life events have to be placed in an order or plot necessary for the leading character to find his identity.
By now, modernizing processes have changed. The success of simple or linear control, envisaged by modern humans, has brought about a new type of uncontrollability that is intrinsic to the modern attitude itself. It has become inevitable for humans to reflect upon what it means to be modern. Narrative identity undergoes a significant change. One’s being a self has become a reflexive project, in which one has to construct the trajectory of one’s life in the form of a biography of the self. When one fails to accomplish this task, one is befallen by a suffering from an existential condition of burnout.
Our high modern culture may be characterised as a period in which a people are suffering from a loss of direct contact with what it entails to experience meaningfulness, or what it needs to lead a good life. How should one respond to this, without losing the rewards of actually being modern? One of the possible replies will be the claim that it will be necessary to have societal structures which do not give an answer to the question what it means to have an identity, but that are able to support humans to keep this question alive as a question.
The aim of this course is to become acquainted with a selected number of philosophical texts that address the question: what can be meant if one speaks of a ‘self’ in high modernity? More specific:
(i) Has the way in which people acquire a narrative identity changed during the transition from modernity to high modernity?
(ii) What can in our time be learnt from Hegel’s thoughts on freedom, self-relatedness and self-realization?
(iii) How can we live an ethical life in high modernity? E.g. by giving up total control in favour of receptivity? Or by institutionalizing how to endure continual self-reflection?
Primary target group | ReMA students |
If places available also open to | PhD researchers |
Type of activity | Course |
Certificate credit points | 6 ECTS |
Organizer | Maarten Coolen (University of Amsterdam) |
Location | |
Date | February 3, 2025 @ 15:00 |
Venue | University of Amsterdam, Room TBA |
The program consists of one introductory meeting (for making arrangements) on Monday 3 February 2025, and 6 regular sessions on the Mondays 10, 17 and 24 February, and 3, 10 and 17 March 2025, always from 15:00 until 18:00.
Readings (listed per session):
Monday February 3 (15:00-18:00):
Monday February 10 (15:00-18:00):
Monday February 17 (15:00-18:00):
Monday February 24 (15:00-18:00):
Monday March 3 (15:00-18:00):
Monday February 10 (15:00-18:00):
Monday February 17 (15:00-18:00):
Assessment:
Students prepare 2-4 questions for each session in small subgroups. At the end of the course students write a short final paper (± 3000 words).
Costs:
How to register:
Registration will open in November.
The registration deadline is January 20, 2025. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to . Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.
The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here).
Name | Maarten Coolen (University of Amsterdam) |