This workshop has a simple goal: to work through some foundational texts from the German tradition that have been significant for contemporary (literary, critical) theory. As the year proceeds, we'll see also how much theory we can also read. Tentative readings: Kant (selections from the three Critiques), Schiller's Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man, Hegel (selections from the Phenomenology of Spirit), Feuerbach's The Essence of Christianity, Marx (selections from the early writings and Capital), Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals, Freud (New Introductory Lectures), Heidegger ( at least The Question Concerning Technology?), perhaps some Wittgenstein, Gadamer, Adorno, and/or Habermas, but this is already threatening to get out of hand. Students are also encouraged to make their own suggestions. Readings in German or English (knowledge of German encouraged but not required). Discussions in English.

For the first meeting on SEPTEMBER 28th, there is an overview reading (the introduction to Mark Taylor's Deconstruction in Context, available for you to photocopy, in the Department of German in Murray Krieger Hall 400). Feel free to contact the instructor (jhsmith@uci.edu) if you have any questions.

This year-long workshop is part of the requirements for the Critical Theory Emphasis, but it is open to all graduate students. The workshop is structured as a reading group to allow for full student/faculty interaction. There will be no term papers or letter grades (except for an S or U). Students will receive four units of credit for this course only in the last (that is, the spring) quarter. Meetings are throughout the year, 2 hours a week for about 5 meetings per quarter.