Politics and French Intellectuals

Undergraduate

The modern intellectual was invented in France at the time of the Dreyfus affair. In the twentieth century, French intellectuals were seen as moral guides and social critics. They engaged in philosophical speculations by bridging theory with practice. During political crises, intellectuals engaged in public debate as a means of influencing society. We will examine figures such as Zola, Benda, Breton, Sartre, Camus, Beauvoir, Aron, Foucault, Ben Jelloun, Derrida and Kristeva. Not open to students who have received credit for FREN 55 .06.