Universität Wien

190065 SE Anthropology and Education (2024S)

Bruno Latour and the education of the moderns

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 19 - Bildungswissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 08.04. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 7 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 22.04. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 06.05. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 7 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 13.05. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 7 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 03.06. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 7 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 10.06. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 7 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG
  • Monday 24.06. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Sensengasse 3a 2.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The French author Bruno Latour was until his recent death in October of 2022 probably one of the most prominent voices in contemporary intellectual debates. His writings on science, technology and the environment have sparked discussions in anthropology, sociology, philosophy, architecture, ecology and many other academic fields. A central issue in his work is the analysis of modernity which he associates with a conceptual split between ‘nature’ and ‘culture’, the importance of critique in science and politics, and the idea of progress as a social aim.
Educational discourses and practices are part and parcel of the modern worldview that Latour problematizes, although these discourses and practices are rarely an explicit topic of his theoretical interest. Starting from a diagnosis of modernity as it has been performed by Latour and educational philosophers and historians, the seminar will discuss several fundamental texts of Latour’s oeuvre to foster debate about the educational significance of his concepts and theories. The seminar is conceived as a reading seminar which means that students are expected to carefully read texts in advance and prepare questions for discussion.
At the end of the course, students understand the basic ideas of Latour’s philosophical position and are able to bring them to bear on foundational discussions in educational philosophy and social theory, particularly with regards to the relation between education and modernity.

Assessment and permitted materials

Seminar paper: While preparing the seminar paper (+/- 2000 words), students can use all texts discussed during the seminar, including presentation materials and any other academic literature of their interest. Students can discuss a first idea for their paper with the lecturer and will receive feedback on a first draft of the paper.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are required to actively participate in the seminar, to prepare a paper and to present their work.
Participation in the seminar: 50%
Presentation of seminar paper: 20%
Seminar paper: 30%

85-100: 1
76-84: 2
68-75: 3
51-67: 4
0-50: 5

Examination topics

See Literature

Reading list

Following list give an indication of the readings for the seminar. During the semester a final list of required readings and secondary literature will be made available. All literature will be read and discussed in English.

Latour, B. (1993). We have never been modern (C. Porter, Trans.). Havard University Press.
Latour, B. (2013). An inquiry into modes of existence. An anthropology of the moderns (C. Porter, Trans.). Harvard University Press.
Latour, B. (2018). Down to Earth. Politics in the new climatic regime (C. Porter, Trans.). Polity.

Association in the course directory

WM-M11

Last modified: Su 17.03.2024 19:46