In this joint colloquium, we will read research literature on alternative epistemologies as well as discuss talks on current research projects from members of the colloquium and external guests.
In this joint colloquium, we will read research literature on alternative epistemologies as well as discuss talks on current research projects from members of the colloquium and external guests.
An in-depth introduction to Foucault’s unique way of intertwining wide-ranging philosophical ideas with detailed histories which un-earth “subjugated knowledge” in the service of sharp political critique.
In this joint colloquium, we will read research literature on alternative epistemologies as well as discuss talks on current research projects from members of the colloquium and external guests.
Are there reliable criteria to distinguish “sciences” from “pseudo-sciences”? In the seminar, we will consider this so-called “demarcation problem” in its early and in its contemporary forms.
In this joint colloquium, we will read research literature on alternative epistemologies as well as discuss talks on current research projects from members of the colloquium and external guests.
In this course, we will read texts from the different debates about the role of values in the social sciences, from the “Werturteilsstreit” and the “Positivismusstreit” to contemporary debates in feminist philosophy of science.
In the seminar, we will discuss fundamental differences in the development of theories of society, using the theories of Habermas and Luhmann as examples.
In the seminar, we will analyze social forms of falsehood, first in everyday life, like politeness, diplomacy and (white) lies, second in economics, from advertisement to corruption, and third in politics, as in propaganda and ideology.
By discussing different theories of society (namely from Marx to Luhmann), we will try to answer the question what is distinctive about theories of society and why we need them.
“Populism” is subject to a fierce debate—yet scientifically, it is far from settled what we mean by it. In the seminar, we will look at the most prominent theories to see how they can help us understand “populism” as not just a political but as a social phenomenon.
The seminar introduces students to modern social theory by discussing classical as well as contemporary texts. We will focus on the topics of domination, agency and critique.
At least since the “practice turn” was announced in 2001, the concepts of “social practices” or “practice theory” have been widely used. Yet what are social practices and how do we theorize them?
Unlike other social sciences, sociology is frequently expected to offer more than data and theories about the societies we live in, namely diagnoses of the present. The seminar examines the recent attempt to provide such a diagnosis of the present by Andreas Reckwitz.
A seminar devoted to Foucault’s The History of Sexuality. Volume 1: An Introduction. After reading the book in the first half of the seminar, we will discuss the most important criticisms and developments in the second half, especially with regard to biopolitics and Foucault’s analysis of racism.
The seminar follows the development of the concept of “ideology” in early texts by Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer up to present day discussions by Rahel Jaeggi and Sally Haslanger.
A review of recent criticisms of democracy and democratic theory. The seminar concentrates on critiques of representation and on the debate about populism.
An introduction to feminist political theory with a special focus on (a) the historical back-ground of feminism as a social movement, (b) the debate about sex and gender, and (c) feminist reformulations of basic concepts from political theory like “power,” “justice,” “democracy” etc.
A seminar devoted to Foucault’s The History of Sexuality. Volume 1: An Introduction. After reading the book in the first half of the seminar, the second half is devoted to the most important criticisms and developments, especially with regard to biopolitics and Foucault’s analysis of racism.
Continues the historical overview of French political theory from the summer semester 2016 with texts from structuralism (e.g. Irigaray) and post-structuralism (e.g. Rancière).
Can we read the history of political liberalism under the perspective of minimalizing the fear of those being governed? And how does it fare, both on its own account and on those of its critics? The research seminar is split in two halves: in the first, we discuss select texts from the history of political thought, in the second, the students present their plans for the term paper and a central text they want to discuss.
A historical overview of French political theory from the beginning of the 20th century: from Existentialism (Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus) to Structuralism (Barthes, Lévi-Strauss, Althusser).
A mandatory seminar for first-year students on good scientific practice. The main topics are how to find research literature, develop research questions and structure one’s own text.
Does knowledge in general have political significance? What concepts do we have to explicate it? The research seminar is split in two halves: in the first, we discuss select texts on the political dimension of knowledge by a variety of authors, from Michel Foucault to Miranda Fricker; in the second, the students present their plans for the term paper and a central text they want to discuss.
Modern democratic theory (especially by Abensour, Rancière or Balibar) focusses on a mo-ment of anarchic equality underlying democracy’s rule. The seminar investigates the relationship to anarchist theory and anarchist practice.
Are there distinctive methods in political theory? And how are they connected to the objects political theory takes itself to be concerned with? The seminar also has a more practical part on academic writing as an essential “method” of political theory.
The relationship between truth and democracy is controversial: Is it a condition sine qua none (as is often said in public debates)? Is it impossible to attain truth in democracy (Plato)? Or does truth rule out democracy (Arendt)? In addition to these conceptual questions, the seminar also looks at practical issues: Are secrets of state legitimate in democracies? What political function does science have? How should we deal with whistle-blowers?
An introduction to feminist political theory with a special focus on (a) the historical back-ground of feminism as a social movement, (b) the debate about sex and gender, and (c) feminist reformulations of basic concepts from political theory like “power,” “justice,” “democracy” etc.
“Responsibility” is a young concept with a stellar career. The seminar looks at its trajectory from the 19th century, in which a specifically political concept of responsibility was born, to debates in the 21th century about the so-called responsibility to protect (R2P).
How does political theory reflect on the relationship between democracy and capitalism? What changes in the theoretical accounts during the 20th century?