Modern Philosophy - Reformed Theological Seminary

Introduction and Postmodernism Part 1

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

In this lesson, you will define the Enlightenment in terms of its major assumptions about God, reason, and progress List the characteristics of the present period (called post–modernity) and explore their relation to the Christian faith

Introduction and Postmodernism Part 2

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

In this lesson, you will define the Enlightenment in terms of its major assumptions about God, reason, and progress List the characteristics of the present period (called post–modernity) and explore their relation to the Christian faith

Rousseau and Kant

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Discuss the significance of Rousseau's political ideas and relate them to our current government policies Demonstrate the revolutionary change that Immanuel Kant introduced into the history of philosophy by exploring his belief that the human mind, rather than the external world, is the center of the knowing process Explain Kant's philosophy by means of several different illustrations

Immanuel Kant, Herder, Shelley Hegel, and Romanticism Part 1

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Explore Kant's philosophy of history and demonstrate its affinity with the ideals of the Enlightenment Demonstrate the way in which Johann Herder's philosophy forms a conscious contrast with Kant's philosophy Introduce the philosophy of George W.F. Hegel and explain the four major contrasts between Hegel and Kant

Immanuel Kant, Herder, Shelley Hegel, and Romanticism Part 2

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Explore Kant's philosophy of history and demonstrate its affinity with the ideals of the Enlightenment Demonstrate the way in which Johann Herder's philosophy forms a conscious contrast with Kant's philosophy Introduce the philosophy of George W.F. Hegel and explain the four major contrasts between Hegel and Kant

Georg W.F. Hegel

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Introduce and define two major concepts in Hegel's philosophy: the Geist and the dialectic Demonstrate the ambiguity associated with Hegel's first concept of the Geist or "world spirit" Explain Hegel's second concept of the dialectic by presenting and illustrating an erroneous interpretation of Hegel and contrasting this interpretation with Hegel's actual teaching

Hegel's Two Schools of Thought and Philosophy of History Part 1

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Compare Hegel with a number of other figures in the history of philosophy in order to illumine Hegel's own philosophy Demonstrate the marked contrast between Kant and Hegel by explaining Kant's four antinomies and comparing them with Hegel's thought Explain Hegel's philosophy of history by exploring his belief that the idea of freedom is the clue to understanding history

Hegel's Two Schools of Thought and Philosophy of History Part 2

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Compare Hegel with a number of other figures in the history of philosophy in order to illumine Hegel's own philosophy Demonstrate the marked contrast between Kant and Hegel by explaining Kant's four antinomies and comparing them with Hegel's thought Explain Hegel's philosophy of history by exploring his belief that the idea of freedom is the clue to understanding history

Soren Kierkegaard and Henrik Ibsen

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Demonstrate the relevance of Soren Kierkegaard's life experience to his philosophy Explore Kierkegaard's analysis of the self–orientation of the (aesthetic) man who lives only for pleasure

Kierkegaard's Three Stages of Life Part 1

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Demonstrate that while Kierkegaard was sympathetic to the Romantics before he became a Christian, he became very critical of them after his conversion because of their non–biblical view of human nature Explore Kierkegaard's use of pseudonyms in his writings and propose possible reasons for this practice Review Kierkegaard's critique of the aesthetic man in his book, "The Equilibrium"

Kierkegaard's Three Stages of Life Part 2

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Demonstrate that while Kierkegaard was sympathetic to the Romantics before he became a Christian, he became very critical of them after his conversion because of their non–biblical view of human nature Explore Kierkegaard's use of pseudonyms in his writings and propose possible reasons for this practice Review Kierkegaard's critique of the aesthetic man in his book, "The Equilibrium"

Kierkegaard and Authentic Religious Beliefs

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Review Kierkegaard's book "Concluding Unscientific Postscript" (CUP) Demonstrate the book's (CUP) conscious polemic against the work of Hegel in the areas of reason, society, and religion Discuss several of the negative factors present in CUP including its depreciation of history, its apparent irrationalism, and its tendency to use important terms in more than one way, thus generating confusion and uncertainty regarding its actual teachings

Kierkegaard and Paradoxes

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Continue reviewing Kierkegaard's book Concluding Unscientific Postscript (CUP) Explain some of the key ideas discussed in the CUP such as truth, faith, history, and the person of Christ Mention some of Kierkegaard's positive insights in the CUP

Kierkegaard, Hemingway, and Post-Hegelians

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Review some of Kierkegaard's other writings Explain Kierkegaard's theory of human nature and his understanding of despair as expressed in his book, "Sickness unto Death" Reinforce the distinction which Kierkegaard's book, Attack on Christendom, makes between Christianity and Christendom Discuss the division which arose among Hegel's followers between those who believed Hegel's philosophy was the final

Bertolt Brecht and Karl Marx

May 15, 2001 • Dr. Ronald Nash

Demonstrate Karl Marx's dependence upon earlier thinkers for the content of his philosophy Explore the agreements and disagreements between the philosophies of Hegel and Marx Discuss Marx's theory of surplus value which claims that the only thing that really produces value is the labor expended by a worker who manufactures a particular product Explain the different forms that Marx's thought assumed in the eyes of its advocates both before and after Marx's death