20th Century Philosophy: Intellectual Heroes and Key Themes

The 20th century was one of the most significant and exciting periods ever witnessed in philosophy, characterised by intellectual change in a challenging context. These lectures present a colourful picture of the intellectual heroes and key themes of 20th-century philosophy. The central ideas of five philosophers will be introduced: Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Dewey, Rorty and Adorno. With references to these philosophers, themes will be discussed like art, moral dilemmas, language, world disclosure, politics, literature, social pathologies and being-towards-death.
Although it is impossible to focus on every philosophical detail, the lectures cover the main movements of philosophy over the last hundred years: existentialism, analytical philosophy, pragmatism, neo-pragmatism and critical theory. These movements will be woven together in a narrative history that accounts for the influence of arts, science and politics. The lectures prove that the world’s oldest intellectual stone will keep on rolling.

The individual lectures
1. Wittgenstein (10 Jan)
2. Heidegger (17 Jan)
3. Dewey (24 Jan)
4. Rorty (7 Feb)
5. Adorno (14 Feb)