The Eastern European tradition of thought
We are familiar with Eastern Europe through its current political unrest and classic Russian novels. These portray a rich political and mystical history. But what philosophical ideas lie behind this? What does the Eastern European philosophical tradition look like? And how does this rich tradition shape Eastern European intellectual life today?
Underground
In the Russian-speaking world, the practice of philosophy was banned for a long time. Philosophical thinking therefore took place 'underground'. During this period of oppression, critical thinking survived in the form of poetry or mystical texts, for example. How can these texts be interpreted as examples of critical thinking? And is this important for the role of critical thinking in society?
Differences
Is there a clear distinction between continental and Anglo-Saxon philosophy, and between these and Eastern European philosophy? Do they draw from the same origins? Do the ways of thinking in different Eastern European countries differ greatly from one another? This course covers Eastern European philosophy from Skovoroda, the earliest known Russian-speaking philosopher, to today's most important thinkers.
