Modernity in Crisis 2017 Essay Questions

Essay Due: Monday 22nd May

 Late essays will be accepted up to Monday 5^th June without excuse, but marks will be deducted according to the Sophi Schedule. Essays will only be accepted till that date if a satisfactory excuse is submitted. The only satisfactory excuses are illness or misadventure. Pressure of other work, or computer equipment failure, does not normally count as misadventure. For further information contact the course-giver. Work must be submitted online through the Blackboard System
Reading
There exists a huge literature to these topics and you may find other useful studies. Secondary reading is not intended to be a substitute for reading the primary texts. Evidence of primary reading is essential. A good answer also presupposes an attempt at critical engagement either with the author or his interpreters or both.

Questions: Chose one question (2, 000 words)

1. Weber speaks of modernity as a new polytheistic age of warring gods. What does he mean and what is his attitude to this predicament? How does this “new polytheism” differ from that of the past? Does he offer us a solution and is it viable?

Readings

Weber, M. 'Politics as a Vocation' and 'Science as a Vocation' From Max Weber Routledge &Kegan Paul, London, 1948
Kalberg, S. Max Weber: Reading and Commentary on Modernity Blackwell, 2005

Scaff, L A. Fleeing The Iron Cage University of California Press, 1989, Ch 3Schecter, D. The Critique of Instrumental Reason Continuum, London, 2010, Ch 1
Habermas, J. Theory of Communicative Action Vol 1 Heinemann, London, 1984 Ch 2
Brubaker, R. The Limits of Rationality Allen & Unwin, London, Chapters1, 3, 4
Turner, C. Modernity and Politics in the Work of Max Weber Routledge, 1992
Bendix, R. & Roth, G. Scholarship and Partisanship University of California Press, Berkeley, 1971, Part A Ch 5
Schluchter, W. The Paradoxes of Modernity Stanford University Press, 1996 Section 1 Truth, Power and Ethics
Eden, R. Political Leadership and Nihilism University Press Florida, 1983 Ch 2, 5, 6
Goldmann, H. Max Weber and Thomas Mann University of California Press, 1988 part 2 Ch 4
Goldmann, H. Politics, Death and the Devil University of California Press, 1992, Ch 2, 3, 6
Kontos, A. ‘The World Disenchanted, and the Return of Gods and Demons’ in The Barbarism of Reason: Max Weber and the Twilight of Enlightenment (Ed) Horowitz, A. & Maley, T, University of Toronto Press, 1994, pp 223/247

2. Explain what Horkheimer and Adorno mean by ‘dialectic of enlightenment’? What is the relationship between this idea and that of the ‘totally administered society’ and what are the consequences for the idea of a critical theory of society today?

Reading

Adorno, T W. & Horkheimer, M. 'The Concept of Enlightenment' and Excursus 1&11 from Dialectic of Enlightenment Stanford University Press, 2002

Jay, M. The Dialectical Imagination Heinemann, London, 1973, Ch 8
Held. D. Introduction to Critical Theory Hutchinson, London, 1980, Ch 5
Honneth, A, The Critique of Power M I T Press, 1991, Ch 2
Dubiel, H. Theory and Politics M I T Press, 1985, pp 69-113

Schecter, D. The Critique of Instrumental Reason Continuum, London, 2010, Ch 3
Wiggerhaus, R. The Frankfurt School M I T Press, 1994 pp 326-350
Rabinbach, A. In the Shadow of Catastrophe: German Intellectuals Between Apocalypse and Enlightenment University of California Press, Berkeley, 1997, Part 1, Ch 1, Part 2, Ch 5
Bronner, S E. Of Critical Theory and Its Theorists Blackwell, 1994, Ch 5, 9
Bronner, S.E. Reclaiming the Enlightenment Columbia University Press, 2004. Ch 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Habermas, J. Theory of Communicative Action Vol 1 Heinemann, London, 1984, Ch 4 Part 2 pp 366-403

3. Elaborate Foucault's image of the "carceral society"? What is the critical burden of this image? Is his standpoint the same as Adorno and Horkheimer’s? Did Foucault intend this as a diagnosis of the present?

Reading

Foucault, M. Discipline and Punish Allen Lane, London, 1977
Foucault, M. “Society Must be Defended” Lectures at the College De France 1975-1976 Picador, New York, 2003
Klitzman, L D. (Ed) Michel Foucault: Politics, Philosophy, Culture; Interviews and Other Writings 1977/1984 Routledge, 1988

Arato, A. & Cohen, J L. Civil Society and Political Theory M I T Press, 1992, Ch 6
Bernauer, J. Michel Foucault' s Force of Flight Humanities Press, New Jersey, Ch 5
Han, B. Foucault’s Critical Project Stanford, CA, Stanford University Press, 2002, Part 1 Ch 1, Part Veyne, P. Foucault: His Thought, His Character Polity, Oxford, 2010

Oksala, J Foucault on Freedom Cambridge University Press, 2005, Part 2
Dumm, T. Michel Foucault and the Politics of Freedom Sage, 1996, Ch 3, 4
Merquior J G Foucault California University Press, 1985, Ch 7-10
Racevskis, K. Michel Foucault and the Subversion of the Intellect Cornell 1983, Cha 6-10
Honneth, A. Critique of Power MIT Press, 1991, Ch 5,6
Morris, M & Patton, P. (eds) Michel Foucault: Power, Truth, Strategy Feral Publications, Sydney, Part 2, pp109-145
Rajchman, J. Foucault: The Freedom of Philosophy Columbia University Press, 1985

4. Heller speaks of modernity as a "dissatisfied society". What is distinctive about this understanding and to what extent do you think it an adequate account?

Reading

Heller,  A. A Theory of Modernity Blackwell, Oxford, 1999

                     ‘Dissatisfied Society’ The Power of Shame, Routledge & Kegan Paul. London, 1985

 Heller, A& Feher, F. ‘ On Being Satisfied in a Dissatisfied Society 1 &2’ The Postmodern Political Condition Polity Press, 1988, Ch 2&3

Grumley, J. Agnes Heller: A Moralist in the Vortex of History Pluto Press, London, 2005, Ch 8,11,12

Tormey, S. Agnes Heller: Socialism, Autonomy and the Postmodern Manchester University Press, 2001, Ch 4

Tormey, S. ‘Why Does Agnes Heller Matter? Political Action, Social Change and Radical Politics in the Twenty-First Century’ Online

Burnheim L (Ed) The Social Philosophy of Agnes Heller Rodophi. Amsterdam, 1994, Ch 4,6, 9

Terezakis, K. (Ed) Engaging Agnes Heller: A Critical Companion Lexington Books, New York, 2009, Ch 3.

Kammas, A. 'Reconciling Radical Philosophy and Democratic Politics: The Work of 

Agnes Heller and the Budapest School'

Critique

35, 249-74, 2007

Rivero, A. 'Agnes Heller: Politics and Philosophy'

Thesis Eleven

59, 17-28,1999

5. Critically analyze Weber's account of democracy and its potential. Do you think it has much to offer us today?

Readings

Weber, M. ‘Politics as a Vocation’ (in Reader)

Weber, M. Political Writings Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1994, Ch 2, 4, 6
Weber, M. Economy and Society University of California Press, 1978, Vol 1 Ch 3 and pp 1339-1368, Vol 2 Appendix 2 pp 1381- 1461

Breiner, P. Max Weber and Democratic Politics Cornell University Press, Ch 4, 5, 6.
Mommsen W J Max Weber and German Politics 1890-1920 University of Chicago Press, 1984, Ch 9, 10
Mommsen,W. The Age of Bureaucracy Blackwell, Oxford, 1974, Ch4

Kim, S. H. Max Weber’s Politics of Civil Society Cambridge University Press, 2004

Wrong, D. (Ed) Max Weber Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 1970, Ch 11
Eden, R. Political Leadership and Nihilism University Press, Florida, 1983 Ch 2, 5, 6
Horowitz, A. & Maley, T. (EdThe Barbarism of Reason: Max Weber and the Twilight of Enlightenment University of Toronto, 1994 Part 1 Ch 3, 4 Part 2 Ch 5, 6
Beetham, D. Max Weber and the Theory of Modern Politics Allen & Unwin, London, 1974, Ch 4, 8
Struve, W. Elites Against Democracy: Leadership Ideals in Bourgeois Political Thought in Germany 1890-1933 Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 1973, Ch 4