THE FRANKFURT SCHOOL

Course Code:

PHIL 626

Course Type:

Elective

P:

3

Lab:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

20

Course Language:

English

Course Objectives:

The aim of this course is to discuss Frankfurt School’s analyses of contemporary social questions through studying the major texts of critical social theory.

Course Content:

The critique of capitalism, socialism, and Marxism, the critical theory of society; a comparative analysis of Negative Dialectic, The Theory of Aesthetics by Theodor W. Adorno, The Dialectic of Enlightenment by Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, and, One Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse.

Teaching Methods:

Teaching Methods: 1: Lecture, 2: Interactive Lecture, 3: Seminar Discussion, 4: Assignment

Assessment Methods:

Assessment Methods: A: Testing, B: Seminar, C: Assignment, D: Presentation, E: Term Paper

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Upon the completion of this course a student:	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
1) grasps Frankfurt School’s analyses of the capitalistic society	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13	1, 2, 3, 4	B, C, D, E
2) compares Frankfurt School’s analyses with other social theories.	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13	1, 2, 3, 4	B, C, D, E
3) assesses the relations between Frankfurt School’s analyses and Marxist theories.	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13	1, 2, 3, 4	B, C, D, E
4) critically discusses the forms the social, cultural and artistic problems have taken under the contemporary capitalistic society.	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13	1, 2, 3, 4	B, C, D, E
5) relates Frankfurt School’s analyses to current social conditions.	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13	1, 2, 3, 4	B, C, D, E

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	Introduction: The project of the Frankfurt School	-
2	Marx, Hegel and Freud: The roots of Frankfurt School	Excerpts
3	Analyses of culture and class in early 20the century: Lukacs and Korsch	Lukacs, Korsch
4	Benjamin’s study of the artwork	Benjamin
5	Benjamin’s Passages	Benjamin
6	Frankfurt School and Weimar Germany	Excerpts
7	Frankfurt School’s analyses of authority and Nazism	Excerpts
8	First round of presentations	-
9	Aesthetic theory	Adorno
10	Aesthetic theory	Adorno
11	Critique of mass culture	Adorno, Horkheimer
12	Frankfurt School’s critique of the Enlightenment	Adorno, Horkheimer
13	Frankfurt School’s critique of the Enlightenment	Adorno, Horkheimer
14	Marcuse and May 1968	Marcuse
15	Social theory, the public sphere and communcation	Habermas
16	Second round of presentations	-

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

Textbook

Additional Resources

H. Marcuse, Eros and Civilization: A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud. New York: Vintage Books, 1962.

H. Marcuse, One Dimensional Man Boston: Beacon Press, 1964.

H. Marcuse, Reason and Revolution: Hegel and the Rise of Social Theory. Boston: Beacon Press, 1960.

Jay, Martin. The Dialectical Imagination: A History of the Frankfurt School and the Institute of Social Research, 1923-1950. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1973.

M. Horkheimer, Between Philosophy and Social Science: Selected Early Writings, translated by G. Frederick Hunter, Matthew S. Kramer and John Torpey. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1993.

M. Horkheimer, Critical Theory: Selected Essays, translated by M. J. O'Connell et al. New York: The Seabury Press (Continuum), 1972.

M. Horkheimer, Eclipse of Reason. New York: Continuum, 1974.

M. Horkheimer, T. W. Adorno, The Dialectic of Enlightenment, edited by Gunzelin Schmid Noerr, translated by Edmund Jephcott. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2002.

T. W. Adorno, Critical Models: Interventions and Catchwords, tr. Henry W. Pickford. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998.

T. W. Adorno, Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged Life, translated by E.F.N. Jephcott. London: Verso, 1974.

T. W. Adorno, Negative Dialectics, translated by E.B. Ashton. New York: Seabury Press, 1973.

T. W. Adorno, The Adorno Reader, edited by Brian O’Connor. Oxford, UK; Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2000.

T. W. Adorno, The Jargon of Authenticity, translated by K. Tarnowski and F.Will. Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1973.

The Cambridge Companion to Critical Theory, edited by Fred Rush. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Walter Benjamin, "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, any edition.

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents	Selected papers.
Assignments
Exams

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Participation in seminar discussions	1	10
Assignments	2	20
Presentation	2	30
Final Paper	1	40
Total		100
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER TO OVERALL GRADE		40
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE		60
Total		100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	acquires fundamental conceptual and methodological knowledge to use productively and creatively in academic studies.					X
2	improves a versatile critical and analytical approach, problem-solving, interpretative and argumentative skills in relation to advanced philosophical investigations.				X
3	proves to be a philosopher with principles, who communicates effectively, is specifically successful in written and oral presentation, has proper capacities for teamwork and interdisciplinary studies, takes the initiative, has developed a sense of responsibility, and contributes original ideas to the field of philosophy.			X
4	applies life-long learning attitude to various ways of acquiring knowledge in order to maintain a professional and personal development.			X
5	develops a consciousness of professional and social ethics.			X
6	acquires the necessary skill of choosing and developing actual means and using computing technologies effectively for a philosophical study .				X
7	conducts an advanced study in history of philosophy which requires expertise, independently by using original texts.				X
8	applies philosophical knowledge to questions concerning contemporary, socio-cultural and political problematics.					X
9	considers universal values and concepts of philosophy as a basis for [furthering] philosophical studies in Turkey; and is able to develop an approach to study and analyse issues that might arise when conducting discussions concerning history of philosophy in the Turkish language.				X
10	acquires the skill and background for making contributions to the field of history of philosophy, in national and international terms.					X
11	uses his/her philosophical knowledge to establish interactions at national and international level.				X
12	produces work of the quality of a contribution in national and international peer-reviewed journals in philosophy.					X
13	holds the necessary knowledge of classical languages, a modern language in addition to English and history of philosophy to conduct an advanced philosophical study particularly in history of philosophy.				X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16 x Total course hours)	16	7	112
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	14	12	168
Assignments	3	24	72
Presentation	2	40	80
Final Paper	1	80	80
Total Work Load			512
Total Work Load / 25 (h)			20,48
ECTS Credit of the Course			20

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