Fall/Winter Timetable

POL475Y1Y L0101

Graduate Course Code: POL2075Y1Y L0101

Post-Modern and Contemporary Thought

Themes

This course concerns postmodern and posthuman thought beginning with a brief discussion of Western philosophy that underlies postmodernism, in particular, Georges Bataille’s understanding of social exchange. Next Jean Baudrillard's reworking of symbolic exchange. A complement is Paul Virilio's understanding of the effects of the technology of speed on the social. Then, we look at capitalism and 'virtual' systems in the work of Deleuze and Guattari and Alain Baidou who rejects Deleuze’s philosophy for a philosophy based on an ontology of truth. Next we examine the posthuman through Catherine Hayles’ reflection on the media’s relation to thought. We will also examine an alternate view of science, myth and philosophy in the work of Michel Serres. Moving from cybernetics to Donna Haraways’s extension of relations to the world of others including our companion species as well with Giorgio Agamben’s view of life between the human and the animal.

Texts

May include Bataille's The Accursed Share, Baudrillard's In the Shadow of the Silent Majorities, Derrida's Given Time, selections from Deleuze and Guattari, Miche Serres The Natural Contract, Giorgio Agamben’s The Open, Donna Haraway Companion Species Manifesto and Catherine Hyles The Posthuman.

Format and Requirements

One two-hour seminar per week. Course requirements TBA.

Preparation

POL200Y1 / POL200Y5 / (POLC70H3, POLC71H3)