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PHIL31080

Academic Year 2024/2025

Hist & Phil: Nazi Germany (PHIL31080)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Brian O'Connor
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This co-taught module (School of History and School of Philosophy) will focus on the history of the Holocaust/Shoah and the philosophical questions to which it gives rise. The material is ordered in such a way as to lead students to an interdisciplinary perspective on various aspects of the Holocaust.

It sets out historiographical questions surrounding the establishment of the death camps, with special concentration on Auschwitz. Some of the philosophically conceived varieties of anti-Semitism – alongside philosophical criticisms of those conceptions – are subsequently considered. The idea of the ‘uniqueness’ of the Holocaust will then be explored, through discussion of a number of diverging philosophical voices. This is followed by the specific matter of Hitler: what was his idea of power, how did he succeed, and why does he define the twentieth century?

The next set of themes relate to the actions and experiences of people in Germany during the Nazi regime. An enormous amount of the population was mobilized and, at various points, enthused by the regime. Evidence of resistance in the context of that totalitarian society, however, needs to be considered also. Enthusiasm led to greater acts of military expansion, ending in crushing and inevitable defeat, defeat that had been perceptible for some time prior to May 1945. Even so, huge numbers of Germans continued to wage futile war against their enemies and of course to continue with their programme of annihilation. The extensive involvement of German society in both war and genocide would lead to searing examinations of German guilt: who, other than politicians and people of violence, was guilty? Can society as a whole be guilty? Should subsequent generations carry the guilt?

It is compelling to think of the Holocaust as evil. Do we really know what we mean by evil, other than that it is a state beyond what’s ‘very bad’? Is it based on consequences or intentions? What is the typical evil act?

Two essay submissions will be required for this module: an historically oriented and a philosophically oriented one. Essays that adopt both approaches will also be welcome.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Enhanced capacity to deal with historical research, to take a critical view of competing narrative.
Enhanced capacity to apply philosophical ideas and concepts to concrete historical situations.
An appreciation of the use of the twin-disciplinary approach.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

10

Autonomous Student Learning

166

Total

200


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures with guides to the material. Q&A in class. Tutorial discussions of specified excerpts from texts.

Generative AI should not be used in the preparation and writing of any assessed work.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL30650 - Hist & Phil: Nazi Germany


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay on History topic or Philosophy topic (the student may choose) Week 7 Graded Yes
40
Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay on History topic or Philosophy topic (the student may choose) Week 14 Graded Yes
40
Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Attendance & participation in lectures & tutorials is a graded MUST PASS module component.

Attendance & participation at 80% of lectures & tutorials=A+
70%=B+
60%=C+
50%=D+
fewer than 50%=FAIL
Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Graded Yes
20
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50