This course is really about the origins of (some) contemporary thought. The works considered were published between 1859 and 1930.We do a very careful and intent reading of Darwin's Origin of Species; of several works by Nietzsche, including The Birth of Tragedy and On the Genealogy of Morality; of Freud's Interpretation of Dreams and Civilization and Its Discontents: and of Heidegger's Being and Time (roughly the first 34 sections).

In addition, there are other "bits and pieces" that we read, some of them included in a modestly-sized course packet.

I offer a contextualization of these thinkers in terms of a central theme, namely, the turn against the notion that there is some sort of deep rationality embedded in the world, to which we merely need to appeal in order to live well. I view exposure to this line of thinking as essential for understanding the modern and contemporary worlds.

The sections will be taught by Tom Butcher, a graduate student specializing in European intellectual history. Tom received extremely high evaluations from students when he TA'd for this course in fall 2011, which is the last time that it was offered. He also TA'd for the companion course, HIEU 3782 Origins of Modern Thought in spring semester 2013.

This is difficult material, but when one approaches it in the right manner it makes sense. The key to the course is careful reading. That should be students' focus. However, in past semesters I have uploaded audio-recordings of my lectures to COLLAB Resources, and I shall continue that practice this semester.

Course Requirements: completion of ca. 9-10 very short answers to "think questions" (TQ's) over the course of the semester; midterm test; assiduous attendance, and reasonable participation, in sections; term paper; and final exam.

The final two requirements, the term paper and the final exam, count highest in determining the grade (approx. 40%each); the other requirements tend to move the grade up or down in more marginal ways.

Most probably I will teach this course again in another three semesters (that would be spring 2015).

At the time of writing (July 5, 2013), I have not uploaded the detailed syllabus to COLLAB Resources. I shall do that as the semester begins. However, I have transferred to this site course material from the Fall 2011 version of the course.