GERST 6820

Hölderlin: Philosophy, Poetry

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

This course examines Friedrich Hölderlin's philosophical, poetological, and poetic work, recognized only belatedly as among the most insistent, consequential, and haunting contributions to German letters. We will pay close attention to Hölderlin's philosophical development, in particular his critiques of Fichte's Science of Knowledge and Schiller's Aesthetic Letters. Taking their departure from these critical positions, Hölderlin's subsequent treatments of aesthetic and poetological questions became the ground of a rigorous and revolutionary philosophico-poetic practice. We will examine Hölderlin's major aesthetic and poetological writings (including the "Oldest System-Program," the authorship of which is still debated). These theoretical tenets are enacted in such poetic texts as the Empedocles drama, the translations of Oedipus and Antigone, and Hölderlin's stunning lyric poetry. Throughout, we will read Hölderlin's philosophical positions in relation to his poetry and trace the move from philosophy to poetic theory and practice. Of particular importance for our inquiry will be the meticulous reading of Hölderlin's views on the method of poetry, the difference between poetic genres, the change of tones, and the notion of intellectual intuition. On this basis, we will also debate the claims of some of Hölderlin's most incisive readers. Readings may include Allemann, Binder, de Man, Haverkamp, Heidegger, Henrich, Krell, Ryan, Lacoue-Labarthe, Nägele, Ryan, Sattler, etc.

When Offered Fall or Spring.

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