1. Coordinator: Anders Petersen ADVANCED SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: CRITIQUE - FREEDOM, RECOGNITION AND CAPITALISM IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

2. COURSE PURPOSE The purpose of this course is to address various theoretical aspects of contemporary critical sociology relating particularly to the topics of freedom, recognition and capitalism. It does so by introducing the students to a wide variety of contemporary sociological theories and diagnoses that are critical, albeit in different meanings of the term. The course is not only, however, introductory. It provides the students with the analytical skills enabling them to differentiate forms of sociological critique from one another, teaches them how the different forms of critique relate to one another and ensures that the students can apply the different forms of critique on contemporary society, especially relating to problems of freedom, recognition and capitalism. Moreover, the students will learn to understand as well as analyze argumentation, key concepts and historical background of the theories in question. The purpose of this course is to address various theoretical aspects of contemporary critical sociology relating particularly to the topics of freedom, recognition and capitalism. It does so by introducing the students to a wide variety of contemporary sociological theories and diagnoses that are critical, albeit in different meanings of the term. The course is not only, however, introductory. It provides the students with the analytical skills enabling them to differentiate forms of sociological critique from one another, teaches them how the different forms of critique relate to one another and ensures that the students can apply the different forms of critique on contemporary society, especially relating to problems of freedom, recognition and capitalism. Moreover, the students will learn to understand as well as analyze argumentation, key concepts and historical background of the theories in question.

3. LECTURERS Anders Petersen – APT Anders Petersen – APT Michael Hviid Jacobsen – MHJ Michael Hviid Jacobsen – MHJ Henrik Jøker Bjerre – HJB Henrik Jøker Bjerre – HJB Rasmus Birk – RB Rasmus Birk – RB Stine Thidemann Faber – STF Stine Thidemann Faber – STF Søren Juul – SJ Søren Juul – SJ

4. COURSE PLAN (1) Introduction: What is Theory? What is Critique? What is Critical Theory? – Problems in and Potentials of Contemporary Critical Sociology (APT) (2 hours) (1) Introduction: What is Theory? What is Critique? What is Critical Theory? – Problems in and Potentials of Contemporary Critical Sociology (APT) (2 hours) (2) Recognition I: Charles Taylor: The Politics of Recognition (APT) (2 hours) (2) Recognition I: Charles Taylor: The Politics of Recognition (APT) (2 hours) (3) Recognition II: Axel Honneth: Recognition and Misrecognition (SJ) (2 hours) (3) Recognition II: Axel Honneth: Recognition and Misrecognition (SJ) (2 hours) (4) Recognition III: Nancy Fraser: Redistribution and Recognition (SJ) (2 hours) (4) Recognition III: Nancy Fraser: Redistribution and Recognition (SJ) (2 hours) (5) Recognition IV: Richard Sennett: Respect in a World of Inequality (APT) (2 hours) (5) Recognition IV: Richard Sennett: Respect in a World of Inequality (APT) (2 hours) (6) What is Theory Seminar (2 hours) (6) What is Theory Seminar (2 hours) (7) Capitalism I: Hartmut Rosa: Capitalism and Social Acceleration (APT) (2 hours) (7) Capitalism I: Hartmut Rosa: Capitalism and Social Acceleration (APT) (2 hours) (8) Capitalism II: Luc Boltanski & Eve Chiapello: The New Spirit of Capitalism (APT) (2 hours) (8) Capitalism II: Luc Boltanski & Eve Chiapello: The New Spirit of Capitalism (APT) (2 hours) (10) Capitalism III: Arlie R. Hochschild & Eva Illouz: Emotional Capitalism (MHJ) (2 hours) (10) Capitalism III: Arlie R. Hochschild & Eva Illouz: Emotional Capitalism (MHJ) (2 hours) (11) Theory Development Seminar (2 hours) (11) Theory Development Seminar (2 hours) (12) Freedom I: Nikolas Rose: Governing Freedom (RB) (2 hours) (12) Freedom I: Nikolas Rose: Governing Freedom (RB) (2 hours) (13) Judith Butler II: Freedom and the Self (STF) (2 hours) (13) Judith Butler II: Freedom and the Self (STF) (2 hours) (14) Freedom III: Zygmunt Bauman: Consumer Freedom in a Liquid Modern World (MHJ) (2 hours) (14) Freedom III: Zygmunt Bauman: Consumer Freedom in a Liquid Modern World (MHJ) (2 hours) (15) Freedom IV: Slavoj Žižek: The Abyss of Freedom (HJB) (2 hours) (15) Freedom IV: Slavoj Žižek: The Abyss of Freedom (HJB) (2 hours) (16) Critiquing Theory Seminar (2 hours) (16) Critiquing Theory Seminar (2 hours)

5. PROJECT WORK The course is only offered on the eighth semester The course is only offered on the eighth semester The course can be followed at either 10, 20 or 30 ECTS points The course can be followed at either 10, 20 or 30 ECTS points Students following the course at 10 ECTS points will do a small set assignment after the lecturing is completed Students following the course at 10 ECTS points will do a small set assignment after the lecturing is completed Students following the project at 20 or 30 ECTS points are required to do a project alongside and after the course Students following the project at 20 or 30 ECTS points are required to do a project alongside and after the course Projects will deal with theoretical aspects of contemporary social theory, including some of the topics of the course – critique, freedom, recognition and capitalism. Other relevant topics are also welcome. Projects are intended to be theoretical exposées showing the ability to present, dissect, discuss and analyse theory Projects will deal with theoretical aspects of contemporary social theory, including some of the topics of the course – critique, freedom, recognition and capitalism. Other relevant topics are also welcome. Projects are intended to be theoretical exposées showing the ability to present, dissect, discuss and analyse theory There are no requirements for conducting empirical work in the projects, which should be kept at a minimum and included only to illustrate or substantiate the theoretical analysis There are no requirements for conducting empirical work in the projects, which should be kept at a minimum and included only to illustrate or substantiate the theoretical analysis

6. COURSE ASPIRATIONS The central ambitions of the course and the related project work are: to give an account and describe central contemporary theories of sociological critique on an advanced level to give an account and describe central contemporary theories of sociological critique on an advanced level to relate, compare and discuss the different strengths and weaknesses of the theories with other theoretical approaches (in lectures, seminars and project work) to relate, compare and discuss the different strengths and weaknesses of the theories with other theoretical approaches (in lectures, seminars and project work) to reflect critically on and analyze a contemporary social problem or subject (be it freedom, recognition, capitalism or otherwise) with the assistance of the theories in question to reflect critically on and analyze a contemporary social problem or subject (be it freedom, recognition, capitalism or otherwise) with the assistance of the theories in question