Christopher Fynsk - Seminars / Workshops / Lectures
HEIDEGGER, ART AND THOUGHT: Introduction to Heidegger (3 credits)
Christopher Fynsk, Ph.D.
Description: This course is a foundation seminar on the thinking of most important philosopher of the 20th century. Explores the future potential of one of Europe's most influential 20th century philosophers and addresses divergent practices of thought and art in post-Heideggerian thinkers.
Objectives: Students shall examine the huge impact of Heidegger on much of contemporary thought. From his seminal Being and Time to later work on technology and language, Heidegger uncovered great insights about the metaphysical basis of our conceptions of being. His critiques arose from a thorough and deep understanding not only of Western philosophy since the pre-Socratics, but also of many non-Western philosophical traditions. However, Heidegger’s philosophy is not without a strong problematic, in particular his short association with German National Socialism in the 1930s culminating in his abortive period as Rector of the University of Freiburg. Chris Fynsk’s seminar doesn’t shy away from the darker side of Heidegger, arguing that contrary to many opinions his short involvement with National Socialism was a result of his philosophical outlook during that time period. However, it should also not be taken as a excuse to discard Heidegger’s thought. Instead, it should serve as an example of the dangers inherent in a human culture still attempting to escape its traditional metaphysical baggage.
Learning Outcomes: Students will have learned the foundations of Heideggar and its influence on contemporary philosophy. This class is in seminar format. This means that your active participation is a requirement of the course. During the semester you will be expected to contribute your own ideas and arguments to the discussion, and to be willing to take the risks such contributions imply.
Course Outline:
Module One:
Theme: Rethinking the history of philosophy: Heidegger I and II and ‘the turn’
The problem of the subject and the obstacle of language
Reading: Fynsk, Chris. Heidegger: Thought and Historicity
Theme: Heidegger’s critique of Western ontology
Towards a new philosophy of being
Dasein: being versus Being
Reading: Heidegger, Martin, Being and Time
Theme: Was Nietzsche the last metaphysician?
Heidegger’s debt to Nietzsche
Beyond nihilism
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. Nietzsche Vol I, II and III
Theme: Heidegger in the 1930s
The Freiburg Rectorship
The distant dispensation
Reading: Fynsk, Chris. Heidegger: Thought and Historicity
Module Two:
Theme: Finding the truth in art
The three conceptions of thingliness
The essence of the artwork
Art as the site of unconcealing
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. The Origin of the Work of Art
Theme: The reinstatement of alhqeia
Truth as a revealing which also conceals
The strife of earth and world
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. The Origin of the Work of Art
Theme: Equipment, technology, and Enframing
The essence of technology
Instrumental being as the legacy of technical existence
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology
Theme: Praxis, poiesis and production
Mankind as standing reserve
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. The Essence of Ground
Module Three:
Theme: Art’s jouissance: engaging dissemblance
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. On the Way to Language
Theme: Ereignis and the relation between man and language
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. The Essence of Language
Theme: Poiesias and the Fourfold
The poetry of Holderlin
Mythopoietic philosophy
Reading: Heidegger, Martin. Building Dwelling Thinking
Theme: Heidegger’s Postmodern legacy
Nancy, Fynsk, Lyotard, Ronell
Required Readings and Assignments:
Fynsk, Christopher. Heidegger: Thought and Historicity. Cornell University Press. 1986. Paperback, 266 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0801481589. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Fynsk, Christopher. Infant Figures: The Death of the Infans and Other Scenes of Origin. Stanford University Press. 2000. Hardcover, 200 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0804734070. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr. Paperback, ISBN: 0804734089. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Fynsk, Christopher, "William Haver. 'Iconographies of Silence'." in: Salvatore Puglia (Editor). Via dalle immagini/Leaving Pictures. Edizioni Menabo. Salerno, 1999, pp. 101-111.
Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time. Harper San Francisco. August 1, 1962. 592 Pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 0060638508. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin, Peter D. Hertz (Translator) and Joan Stambaugh (Translator). On the Way To Language. HarperOne. February 24, 1982. Paperback, 208 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0060638591. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. Nietzsche Volumes One and Two. HarperOne. March 1, 1991. Paperback, 608 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0060638419. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. Nietzsche Volume Three and Four. HarperOne. 1991, Paperback, 608 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0060637943. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. “The Origin of the Work of Art.” in: David Krell (Editor). Basic Writings: Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN: 9780060637637. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin and William Lovitt (Translator). The Question Concerning Technology, and Other Essays. Harpercollins. February 1982. Paperback, 224 Pages, Language English, ISBN: 0061319694. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. "Building Dwelling Thinking." in: Poetry, Language, Thought. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. 2001. Paperback, 256 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0060937289. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. "The Essence of Language." in: On the Way to Language. HarperOne. 1982. Paperback, 208 pages, Language English, ISBN: 0060638591. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. The Basic Problems of Phenomenology. Indiana University Press. 1988. Paperback, 432 pages, Language English, ISBN: 025320478X. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Heidegger, Martin. "The Essence of Ground." in: Pathmarks. Cambridge University Press. 1998. Paperback, 399 pages, Language English, ISBN: 052143968X. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Recommended Readings and Assignments:
Fynsk, Christopher. Infant Figures: The Death of the 'Infans' and Other Scenes of Origin. Stanford University Press, 2000. ISBN: 9780804734073. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.
Fynsk, Christopher. The Claim of Language. University of Minnesota Press. 2004. ISBN: 0816644829. Buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr.