German Romanticism: Literature, Philosophy, Science

Hist. 25400;77100CFS 42400

Philos.30700 HiPSS 27600

German 47800

Instructor: Robert J. Richards

I. Books: Books for the course are available in the Seminary Co-operative Bookstore (5757 University Ave.). They are the following:

A. Required reading:

Fichte, J. G. Introductions to the Wissenschaftslehre (Hackett)

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Faust Part One, translated by David Luke (Oxford)

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Faust Part Two, translated by David Luke (Oxford)

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Sorrows of Young Werther, translated by Mayer and Bogen (Vintage Classics)

Kant, Immanuel, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, trans. G. Hatfield (Cambridge)

Kant, Immanuel, Critique of Judgment, translated by Werner Pluhar (Hackett)

Novalis, Hymns to the Night (McPherson & Co.)

Schleiermacher, Friedrich, On Religion (Cambirdge)

B. 3 Packets of Photocopies: Readings in German Romanticism (available for purchase in the Fishbein Center, Social Science Building, rm. 207).

C. For those who wish to try their hand:

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Faust, Erster und Zweiter Teil (Deutscher Taschenbuch)

Goethe Johann Wolfgang von, Die Leiden des jungen Werther (Deutscher Taschenbuch)

Kant, Immanuel, Kritik der Urteilskraft (Suhrkamp)

Kant, Immanuel, Prolegomena zu einer jeden künftigen Metaphysik (Felix Meiner)

Schleiermacher, Friedrich, Ueber die Religion (Felix Meiner)

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II. Requirements:

1. Each student must read all the material under the heading "texts for discussion." The recommended reading should also be done, though perhaps with somewhat less assiduity.

2. On the Wednesday prior to each class during the two quarters, you should turn to me via email a one-two page essay. The essay should be the answer to a question you have posed concerning some aspect of the reading for that week. The question might be suggested by the secondary reading, or by something that seems puzzling in the primary reading. Absolutely no longer than two pages.

3. During the first quarter of this twoBquarter course, a 10-15 page paper will be due on December 1st, by 12:00 p.m., in the Fishbein Center. The topic will be of your own choosing.

4. At the end of the first quarter, there will be a final take-home exam, with one question: What constitutes Romantic thought in Germany at the turn of the century? In answering this question, you should include instances taken from the primary reading for the course. You may answer the question as you see fit, but your answer should be no longer than five double-spaced pages. This exam should be turned in to the secretary in Social Sciences 207 by Friday, December 7th at noon.

5. During the second quarter, your efforts should be directed toward the production of a seminar paper. The topic will be of your own choosing, but you should discuss it with the instructor before you undertake serious effort. The seminar paper should embody research done from primary sources in the areas of philosophy, history, literature, or cultural studies. The paper will be due by noon on Tuesday, March 26th. Turn your paper into the secretary in Social Sciences 207. (If you turn it in by March 15th, you will have a grade on your winter report card).

Be sure to keep copies of all your written work (required).

III. Office hours and communication

Office hours will be held in Social Sciences 205 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.; Fridays from 2:30 until 3:30, and by appointment. Phone: 702-8348; Fax: 743-8949; E mail:

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Fall Quarter

  1. Introduction
  2. Lecture:

Scope and Nature of Romanticism.

  1. Recommend reading:
  2. Isaiah Berlin, "The Counter-Enlightenment," in his Against the Current. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  3. Robert Richards, Prologue and chap. 1 of The Romantic Conception of Life. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. The Prelude: Sturm und Drang
  2. Texts for discussion:

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sorrows of Young Werther.

  1. Recommended reading:
  2. Robert Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap 2, pp. 1-9; chap. 10, pp. 1-48. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  3. Hans Reiss, ADie Leiden des jungen Werthers,@Goethe=s Novels. In Goethe: Secondary Readings.
  1. Kant: The Argument of the First Critique
  2. Text for discussion: Immanuel Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (1783), Introduction, Preamble, First and Second Parts.

B.Recommended reading:

  1. Charles Parsons, "The Transcendental Aesthetic," The Cambridge Companion to Kant. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.

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  1. Paul Guyer, "The Transcendental Deduction of the Categories," Cambridge Companion to Kant. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Kant and Herder
  2. Texts for discussion:
  3. Kant, Prolegomena, Third Part, Conclusion, and Solution.
  4. Johann Gottfried von Herder, Reflections on the Philosophy of the History of Mankind (1784-91), in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  5. Immanuel Kant, "Reviews of Herder's Reflections," in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  6. Recommended reading:
  7. W. Zimmerli, "Evolution or Development? Questions Concerning the Systematic and Historical Position of Herder," in Herder Today, ed. Kurt Mueller-Vollmer, in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  8. Isaiah Berlin, "The Apotheosis of the Romantic Will," The Crooked Timber of Humanity, in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Kant's Critique of Judgment: Aesthetic Judgment
  2. Texts for discussion: Immanuel Kant, Critique of Judgment, '1-22 (pp. 43-95); '23-29 (pp. 97-126); '30-53 (pp. 141-201).
  3. Recommended reading:
  4. Werner Pluhar, "Translator's Introduction," in Critique of Judgment, pp. xxiii-lxxi.
  5. Eva Schaper, "Taste, Sublimity, and Genius: The Aesthetics of Nature and Art," Cambridge Companion to Kant. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.

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  1. Kant's Critique of Judgment: Teleological Judgment
  2. Texts for discussion: Immanuel Kant, Critique of Judgment, '61-88 (pp. 235-349).
  3. Recommended reading:
  4. Werner Pluhar, "Translator's Introduction," in Critique of Judgment, pp. lxxi-cix.
  5. Robert Richards, AKant and Blumenbach on the Bildungstrieb: A Historical Misunderstanding, Stud. Hist. Phil. Biol. &Biomed. Sci, 31 (2000). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Romantic Poetry
  2. Texts for discussion:
  3. Selections of Goethe=s Poetry (mostly from Selected Verse):AMailied@ (p. 7); AWillkommen und Abschied@ (pp. 9-10); AHeidenroselein@ (pp. 10-11); AGanymedA (pp. 15-16); APrometheus@ (pp. 17-19);AWanders Nachlied, I and II@ (pp. 49-50); AAn den Mond@ (two versions, pp. 50-54); @Bin so in Lieb...@ (P. 75); AErlkönig@ (pp. 80-82); AKennst du das Land . . .@ (pp. 85-86); ANur wer die Sehnsucht kennt. . .A(p. 87); ARömische Elegien@ (in Selected Readings in German Romanticism); AMetamorphose der Pflanzen@(pp. 147-51); ANatur und Kunst@ (p. 197); ADas Tagebuch@(pp. 202-211); and AGefunden@ (p. 218).
  4. Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), Hymns to the Night
  5. Recommended Reading:
  6. Richards, Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 9-26; chap. 10, pp. 48-118.
  7. Robert Tobin, AIn and Against Nature: Goethe on Homosexuality and Heterosexuality,@ in Outing Goethe and His Age, ed. A. Kuzniar. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.

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  1. Aesthetic Theory
  2. Texts for discussion:
  3. Goethe=s Theory of Art: ASimple Immitation, Manner, Style.@ In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  4. Friedrich Schiller: ANaive and Sentimental Poetry,@ selections. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  5. Friedrich Schlegel et al., Athenaeum Fragments (1B6, 22, 34, 116B21, 252, 281). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  6. Friedrich Schlegel, Dialogue on Poetry. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  7. Recommended reading:
  8. Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 9-59, 102-107, 124-37; chap. 4; chap. 11, pp. 1-40.
  9. Ernst Behler, AThe Theory of Romantic Poetry,@ in his German Romantic Literary Theory. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Fichte: Foundations of Idealism
  2. Texts for discussion:

J. G. Fichte, Introductions to the Wissenschaftslehre, pp. 1-105.

  1. Recommended Reading:
  2. Robert Richards, ARomantic Movement,@ pp. 59-102. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  3. Editor=s AIntroduction@ to Fichte, Introductions to the Wissenschaftslehre, pp. vii-xxxii.
  1. Romantic Approach to Religion
  2. Text for discussion:

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Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion, first, second, and third speeches.

  1. Recommend reading:
  2. Introduction to the Cambridge edition of On Religion
  3. Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 2, pp. 107-24.

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  1. Winter Quarter
  1. Romantic Philosophy: Schelling
  2. Text for discussion: Philosophical Letters on Dogmatism and Criticism. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  3. Recommended reading: Robert Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 3, pp. 1-48. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Naturphilosohpie: Schelling
  2. Text for discussion:
  3. Schelling, Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature Preface to 1st (1797) and 2nd (1803) editions, Introduction, Supplement to Introduction, chs 1 and 2 (with supplements) of Book I; ch. 4 (with supplement) of Book II. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  4. Schelling, System of Transcendental Idealism, parts 5 and 6. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Recommended reading: Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 3, pp. 48-118. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  1. Goethe's Science
  2. Texts for discussion: selections from Goethe's On Morphology, in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  3. Recommend reading:
  4. Ernst Cassirer, "Goethe and the Kantian Philosophy," in Selected Readings in German Romanticism.

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  1. Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 11, pp. 40-145.
  1. Vital Forces and the Aesthetics of Science: Johann Friedrich Blumenbach and Alexander von Humboldt
  2. Texts for discussion:
  3. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, ABildungstrieb,@ in Elements of Natural History (10 ed., 1820), in Selected Readings in German Romanticism
  4. Alexander von Humboldt, "Vital Force, or the Rhodian Genius," Views of Nature (1807; 3rd ed., 1849). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  5. Alexander von Humboldt, Cosmos: a Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe (1844). In Selected Readings in German Romanticism
  6. Recommended reading: Michael Dettelbach, AHumboldtian Science,@ in Cultures of Natural History, eds. N. Jardine, et al. In Selected Readings in German Rpmanticism.
  1. Goethe: Faust, part 1
  2. Texts for discussion: Goethe, Faust Part One
  3. Recommended reading:
  4. Introduction to Part One by David Luke.
  5. Remarks by Goethe on his Faust. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism
  1. Goethe: Faust, Part Two
  2. Text for discussion: Goethe, Faust Part Two (scenes 8B10 [to line 7150; 7676B8487], 11, 21B23.
  3. Recommended reading:
  4. Introduction to Part Two by David Luke

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  1. Comments by Contemporaries. In Selected Readings in German Romanticism.
  2. Richards, The Romantic Conception of Life, chap. 12

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