The Great War and Modern Philosophy - KU Leuven University

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was the original catastrophe of the 20th-century. This course investigates the complex ways in which the Great War mobilized philosophical reflection during the war and the varied ways in which philosophical thought responded to the war. Students in this course will be introduced to different philosophical reactions to the Great War through discussion and analysis of texts, documents, images, artworks, film, and music. The relation between philosophy and poetry will also be explored. In this course, students will gain historical knowledge, conceptual understanding, and literacy for a clearer grasp of the complex ways in which philosophy and the Great War intersected. The course is divided into four thematic sections: An Absolute War The Clash of Civilizations Memento Mori The Hope of Peace Across each of these thematic sections, we will explore a panoramic view of different philosophical traditions and movements in England, France, and Germany during the war. Students have the option to participate in forum discussions in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and Chinese.