Instructor:  Dr. Péter HAJNAL

Text: handouts

Course description:
The course offers an introduction to philosophical issues that helped shape modern European culture, with special emphasis allowed to contributions arising from East and Central Europe. The aim of the course is to help to understand the philosophical concepts such as world-view, historical knowledge, national
identity, alienation, social revolution etc., both in terms of contemporary social reality and philosophical tradition.

Discussion will include developments in literature and the arts as well as excerpts from famous texts of social and political theory. As most of the influential ideologies and systematic philosophical views in the 20th century, such as psychoanalysis, Marxism, logical positivism and Existentialism have roots in the social-historical events of this geographical area, on site study of the major ideas  motivating these bodies of thought offers a unique opportunity fot gaining insight into the ruling
ideological forces of the westerm world.

The course is based on class discussions of selected texts made available in handouts. Suggestions for discussion of problems
based on everyday and professional experiences during your stay in Hungary will be most welcome.