Philosophicum - Presence of Mind

Presence is required in the course. There are no specific requirements in terms of content or competence.

The course “Philosophicum – Presence of Mind” attempts at letting students see the figures and characteristics of philosophical thinking in front of the background of the history of philosophy. By means of a specific figure of philosophy (which can either be a person, a system, or a form of thinking) an active reference to historical as well as current problems will be given. The following example will help to explain this abstract notion: The question of the transformation of renaissance-humanism through modernity – which, according to Bruno Latour, never really existed – will be confronted with the current questions of the so-called post-humanism, the term of “modernity” used by Michel Foucault or the so-called “Humanismusbrief” written by Martin Heidegger. The relationship between the self (an important topic of, for example, the Stoa), the relationship to the others/the other (the so-called “Mitsein”, the political) and the relationship to the physical world (nature, technology, economy) will be reflected as dynamic agens. Philosophical figures of thinking as well as philosophical terms will be questioned concerning their functions to provide answers to problems/questions of their times. Simultaneously we will develop current terms in order to understand the present a little bit better as well as to be able to expand our ways of acting.

The students come closer to their own thinking and can practice it. You know how to think laterally. They are familiar with concepts and figures of thought and the history of philosophy and have also deepened selected ones. You will gain an insight into contemporary discourses from the point of view of philosophy. You can approach philosophical texts and discourses, analyse them and apply them to current problems. They are a step further in their presence of mind.

Lecture, reading & analysis of texts, group dialogue, independent reading of texts and books, discourse analysis as well as practical exercises.

Small seminar paper, presentation and dialogue

Criteria: participation, thinking along, own critical thinking, introducing topics and perspectives into the course, independent preparation of the literature.

The course will change concerning its specific topics over time. However, the basic foundation – as described above – will be preserved.

The necessary literature will be announced at the beginning of the course. The lecturers focus on current and specific literature related to the topics of the course. However, it will also be helpful to prepare for the lecture with the help of an introduction into the history of philosophy or any other book that deals with philosophical topics in the 21st century.

The course is mainly held as a seminar, i.e. the students contribute with presentations and discussions or the preparation of texts. Inputs from the teachers are a natural part of the course.