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19th Century Philosophy

Code: 100308
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Philosophy OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jesús Adrian Escudero
Email :
jesus.adrian@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No prerequities appy to enrole the course.

Objectives

  1. Understand the foundations of nineteenth-century philosophy.
  2. Analyse key philosophical texts and develop critical interpreting skills.
  3. Relate the main theories of nineteenth-century philosophy with other fields of knowledge.
  4. To encourage reflection on the human experience and the destiny of civilization.

 

Learning outcomes

  • CM10 (Apply historical philosophical perspectives to the analysis of current problems, valuing the historicity of human thought.) Apply historical philosophical perspectives to the analysis of current problems, valuing the historicity of human thought.
  • CM11 (Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the Western philosophical legacy, recognising its relevance for contemporary thought in order to address the omissions that have conditioned the configuration of its canon and to assert historically marginalised contributions.) Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the Western philosophical legacy, recognising its relevance for contemporary thought in order to address the omissions that have conditioned the configuration of its canon and to assert historically marginalised contributions.
  • CM12 (Develop a project related to the philosophical tradition that encourages reflective positioning, rational dialogue and a critical attitude.) Develop a project related to the philosophical tradition that encourages reflective positioning, rational dialogue and a critical attitude.
  • KM11 (Explain the main philosophical systems, currents, authors and problems developed from ancient philosophy to the nineteenth century.) Explain the main philosophical systems, currents, authors and problems developed from ancient philosophy to the nineteenth century.
  • KM12 (Identify the fundamental concepts of philosophical thought in a specific period, such as arché, substance, reason, faith, freedom, enlightenment, spirit, among others.) Identify the fundamental concepts of philosophical thought in a specific period, such as arché, substance, reason, faith, freedom, enlightenment, spirit, among others.
  • KM13 (Identify the continuities and ruptures between the different stages of the historical development of Western philosophy by virtue of the conceptual elaboration that characterises them and the references between the texts worked.) Identify the continuities and ruptures between the different stages of the historical development of Western philosophy by virtue of the conceptual elaboration that characterises them and the references between the texts worked.
  • KM44 (Use basic historiographical criteria to place philosophical doctrines in their corresponding social, scientific or religious context.) Use basic historiographical criteria to place philosophical doctrines in their corresponding social, scientific or religious context.
  • SM11 (Relate philosophical ideas to other knowledge and cultural expressions of their time (science, art, religion, politics).) Relate philosophical ideas to other knowledge and cultural expressions of their time (science, art, religion, politics).
  • SM12 (Analyse primary philosophical texts from different periods with critical and interpretative rigour.) Analyse primary philosophical texts from different periods with critical and interpretative rigour.
  • SM13 (Contrast different philosophical positions, identifying their foundations, internal tensions and historical projections.) Contrast different philosophical positions, identifying their foundations, internal tensions and historical projections.

Contents

Topic 1. Schelling and the theme of human freedom.


Topic 2. Hegel and the philosophy of spirit.


Topic 3. Bentham, Mill and utilitarianism.


Topic 4. Schopenhauer and the power of will


Topic 5. Marx and political economy.


Topic 6. Nietzsche and Nihilism


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Tutorials 20 0.8 KM12, KM13, KM44
Course presentation. Theoretical presentation of main concepts. Commentary of significative texts. Assessment of course contents and methodology. 45 1.8 CM12, KM11, KM44, SM11, SM12
Preparation of topics and texts (dossier). Preparation of presentation. Preparation of tecxt commentary. Preparation of exam. 70 2.8 CM10, CM11

The course combines lectures with seminar sessions and class discussion of the main readings of the course. Students actively participate in the analysis of texts and in the learning process. Class attendance is mandatory and will be controlled.

Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the centre/degree, for students to complete the surveys for the evaluation of the performance of the teaching staff and the evaluation of the subject/module.

 

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Second midterm exam 40% 2 0.08 CM10, CM11, CM12, KM11, KM44, SM12, SM13
First midterm exam 40% 2 0.08 CM10, CM11, CM12, KM11, KM44, SM12, SM13
Classroom participation 10% 7 0.28 KM12, KM13, SM11
Book review 10% 4 0.16 KM44, SM12

The continuous assessment system consists of:

1. Two midterm exams (40% each)

2.Book review (10%)

3. Class attendance and participation (10%)


It is possible that the Department of Philosophy will establish (as it has done during the first semester) a period of concentration of evaluative tests. The teaching staff will indicate if there is this period or what the dates of the tests are at the beginning of each subject.


Single assessment

The single assessment will consist of an exam with two parts corresponding to the two blocks and a paper (2000-2500 words) on a topic chosen in agreement with the teacher that must be delivered on the same day of the exam.

In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and will result in the activity being evaluated with a 0 and not being able to be retaken, or greater penalties in cases of severity.

Recovery

To participate in the reassessment, students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade (CONTINUOUS EVALUATION) or submit all the planned tests (SINGLE EVALUATION).

At the time of each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and the date of revision of the grades.

The student will receive the grade of \"Not assessed\" as long as they have not delivered more than 30% of the evaluation activities.

In the event that the student makes any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that there are several irregularities in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be 0.


Bibliography

Primary bibliography


Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. 2010 [1807]. Fenomenología del espíritu (bilingüe). Traducció d’Antonio Gómez Ramos. Madrid: Abada.

Marx, Karl. 2022 [1848]. El manifiesto comunista. Madrid: Alianza.

Marx, Karl. 2013 [1844]. Manuscritos de economía y filosofía. Madrid: Alianza.

Mill, John Stuart. 1996 [1859]. Sobre la libertad. Madrid: Alianza.

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm. 2012 [1872]. El nacimiento de la tragedia. Madrid: Alianza.

Schelling, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph. 2004 [1809]. Investigaciones sobre la esencia de la libertad humana. Barcelona: Anthropos.

Schopenhauer, A. 2020 [1844]. El mundo como voluntad y representación. Madrid: Trotta

At the beginning of each session, a specific bibliography on each author and topic can be provided.

Software

No specific software is required.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed