Prof. Arnold I. Davidson Autumn 2011 Stuart 228 (773) 702-9849 Spiritual Exercises, Relations of Power, Practices of Freedom Syllabus for PHIL #51990 (=DVPR 51990, CMLT 51990, HIJD 51990) Introduction and Organization (1 seminar) Michel Foucault: Power / Resistance / Counter - Conduct (1 seminar) “Les mailles du pouvoir”, Dits et écrits, texte 297 Histoire de la sexualité, 1. La volonté de savoir, IV, 2, “Méthode” “Le sujet et le pouvoir”, Dits et écrits, texte 306 Securité, Territoire, Population, Leçon du 1er mars 1978 Michel Foucaul: Ethics, Parrêsia, and the Subject (1 seminar) L’Herméneutique du sujet, pp. 3-32, 170-179 (473-485) Le Gouvernement de soi et des autres, pp. 41-69 Le Courage de la vérité, pp. 3-31, 145-176, 200-230 Pierre Hadot: Spiritual Exercises (1 seminar) Exercices spirituels et philosophie antique, Chapters: “Exercices spirituels”, “La philosophie comme manière de vivre”, “Un dialogue interrompu avec Michel Foucault, Convergences et divergences”, “Refléxions sur la notion de ‘culture de soi’”, “Le sage et le monde”, “La philosophie est-elle un luxe?”, “Qu’est-ce que l’éthique?” Pierre Hadot: Philosophy as a Way of Life (1 seminar) La Philosophie comme manière de vivre. Entretiens avec Jeannie Carlier et Arnold I. Davidson, Chapters 3, 6-10, “Postface” Supplementary reading: Études de philosophie ancienne, Chapters: “La philosophie antique: une éthique ou une pratique?”, “La figure du sage dans l’Antiquité gréco-latine”, “Les modèles de bonheur proposés par les philosophes grecs”. Time permitting, we will also discuss George Lewis’ 2010 composition “Les Exercices Spirituels”, which can be found on the CD Les Exercices Spirituels, Tzadik 2011. (continued) Martin Luther King, Jr.: Non-violence, Prison, Freedom (1 seminar) Strive Toward Freedom, pp. 1-10, 30-55, 70-95, 122-142, 182-221 Why We Can’t Wait, pp. xi-16, 30-36, 78-112, 140-143, 154-191 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Racism, Chaos, Community (1 seminar) Where Do We Go From Here, pp. 19-142 Primo Levi: Auschwitz (1 seminar) Survival in Auschwitz, “Preface”, Chapters 1-3, 7-11, 13-14, 16 The Drowned and the Saved, “Preface” For those students who can read Italian, I also recommend, La vacanza morale del fascismo. Intorno a Primo Levi, a cura di Arnold I. Davidson Primo Levi: Philosophical Witness (1 seminar) The Drowned and the Saved, “Preface”, Chapters 1-7, “Conclusion” Disobedience and Self-Reliance (1 seminar) This last seminar will be used to draw together the different philosophical themes in Foucault, Hadot, King, and Levi. If time permits we will discuss the following additional readings: Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance” Albert Ogien and Sandra Laugier, Pourquoi désobeir en democratie?, Chapter 1 REQUIREMENTS: Each person (auditors included) will be responsible for a seminar presentation on one of the weeks’ readings. A 3-5 page discussion paper on the topic of your presentation should be available for all seminar participants to read in advance (by noon on the Monday before your presentation). A final paper of approximately 15 pages is required of all students enrolled for credit. If you need to contact me, do not send me email. Leave a phone message or a note in my mailbox (always include a phone number where I can reach you.) NO LATE PAPERS; NO INCOMPLETES.