JWST1019A-W23
Philosophy of Fascism
Philosophy of Fascism in the work of Adorno, Arendt and Benjamin
Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940).
Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./
Was the previous US administration fascist? Was it comparable to 20th century European fascism? Upon finding refuge in America, several German-Jewish philosophers sought to understand the terms fascism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. They focused on morality, participation and subjectivity rather than the figure of the dictator. They asked if this could happen in America. We will begin with a survey of contemporary debates and then read selections from Adorno/Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Adorno, The Authoritarian Personality (1950), and Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951). We will conclude with Benjamin’s Thesis on the Philosophy of History (1940).
Eric Levi Jacobson has taught philosophy and Jewish Studies in London and Berlin. He is the author of Metaphysics of the Profane: The Political Theology of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem, New York: Columbia University Press, 2003./
- Term:
- Winter 2023
- Location:
- Axinn Center 232(AXN 232)
- Schedule:
- 10:30am-12:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at AXN 232 (Jan 5, 2023 to Feb 2, 2023)
6:30pm-8:30pm on Wednesday at AXN 232 (Jan 5, 2023 to Feb 2, 2023) - Type:
- Lecture
- Course Modality:
- In-Person
- Instructors:
- Unknown Unknown
- Subject:
- Jewish Studies
- Department:
- Jewish Studies
- Division:
- Interdisciplinary
- Requirements Fulfilled:
- PHL WTR
- Levels:
- Undergraduate
- Cross-Listed As:
- PHIL1019A-W23
- Availability:
- View availability, prerequisites, and other requirements.
- Course Reference Number (CRN):
- 11459
- Subject Code:
- JWST
- Course Number:
- 1019
- Section Identifier:
- A