Philosophies of the Holocaust: New Reflections on Important Authors

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FI2_W09

FI2_W10

FI2_U03

FI2_U06

FI2_U13

FI2_U19

FI2_K01

The historic occurrence of the Holocaust has determined the fate of Western consciousness during and after the Second World War. The general aim of the course is to offer the possibility of revisiting this decisive event in the context of philosophy. The first task is to define what one means by using the expression of the Holocaust. Second, we are to deal with the historical roots of this occurrence in Christianity and Modernity. Third, we analyze the works of some of the important authors writing on this problem, especially those of S. Katz, E. Wiesel, R. Rubenstein, H. Jonas, E. Lévinas, V. Frankl, and the movie director L. Nemes. We approach the latest literature on the basis of the earlier analyses and decide if there are new results in more contemporary works. We need to face the challenge of the denial of the Holocaust as well. Finally, we are to interpret the significance of this historic event in the context of our situation today from the point of view of philosophy.

The historic occurrence of the Holocaust has determined the fate of Western consciousness during and after the Second World War. The general aim of the course is to offer the possibility of revisiting this decisive event in the context of philosophy. The first task is to define what one means by using the expression of the Holocaust. Second, we are to deal with the historical roots of this occurrence in Christianity and Modernity. Third, we analyze the works of some of the important authors writing on this problem, especially those of S. Katz, E. Wiesel, R. Rubenstein, H. Jonas, E. Lévinas, V. Frankl, and the movie director L. Nemes. We approach the latest literature on the basis of the earlier analyses and decide if there are new results in more contemporary works. We need to face the challenge of the denial of the Holocaust as well. Finally, we are to interpret the significance of this historic event in the context of our situation today from the point of view of philosophy.

Content:

1. Introduction. A Virtual Tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Facing the fact, the contexts and the circumstances. Searching for the best name. What is at stake in dealing with the Holocaust? (Bibliography items 7, 9, 12)

2. Methodological issues. The variety of sources of our procedure: a) Historical; b) Personal; c) Artistic; d) Philosophical; e) Theological. (Bibliography items 7, 8, 12, 14, 15)

3. Parallel Events in History and the problem of comparison. Analogical approaches. (Bibliography items 11, 13, 16)

4. Historical sources (Bibliography item 7)

5. Personal sources (Bibliography items 1, 2, 3)

6. Artistic sources (Bibliography items 7, 2, 3)

7. Philosophical sources (2, 7, 15).

8. Theological sources (Bibliography items 8, 11, 13, 14)

9. Is the Holocaust hard-wired in the tissue of Western history, especially that of Christianity? (Bibliography items 9, 12)

10. The problem of denial. Various sorts of denial: a) Denial on the basis of insignificance; b) Denial on the basis of frequency; c) Denial of the basis of subsequence; d) Denial on the basis of factual and principal impossibility; c) Denial on the basis of the nature of ideology. Consequences of various form of denial. (Bibliography item 16)

11. The Holocaust as a Philosophical Occurrence (the issue of the end of philosophy) (Bibliography items 7, 9, 12).

12. The History of Western Culture in the Perspective of the Holocaust (Bibliography items 7, 9, 12).

13. Possibilities opened up by the Holocaust (Bibliography items 7, 9, 12).

14. The Son of Saul (movie) and its hidden interpretation.

15. Summary and Conclusions. (All bibliography items)

Out of the 15 units, 10 will be held personally by the professors in the form of teaching, namely: 1-3; 9-15.

Units 4-8 will be held in the form of distance teaching, namely supplying students with appropriate texts for the sake of analysis. This part of the course helps the students to immerse in the problems of sources, that is their existence, kind, reliability, and value.

A final course paper is to be written in order to receive the credits associated with the course. The subject matter and the structure of the paper is to be determined through consultations with the professor.