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European Thought and Culture in the 19th Century
This course of 24 lectures examines major themes in 19th-century European thought in philosophy, political theory, social thought, and literature. This course stresses the importance of social, political, and economic realities in the formation and diffusion of all ideas.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 6, 2021
A fairly straightforward history of ideas, well edited, organized. Nothing spectacular as an orator, but serviceable. It seems like lot of thought about what when in and how it all fit together. All the figures you would expect, but also quite a few that were major at the time but have since faded and I hadn't heard before these lectures. The lectures mostly fit a pattern of 2/3 being about a particular topic, and then the last 1/3 being major figures that represent it. That worked fine for me and I appreciated the structure, which makes it easier to focus on the content (you never have to think "where is this going again?").
Overall, really an excellent topic; I've been reading a lot of Axel Honneth and other latter-day Hegalians lately, and listening to Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast that goes through this period, and really seems like the history of ideas should be a more commonplace preoccupation. I'd rather talk about this lecture series at a cocktail party than a Netflix show or whatever. Also a bonus that it feeds pretty continuously into the European Thought And Culture In the 20th century series without any gap or overlap. I'm only about five lectures in to the 20th century one as I write this, but functionally they seem to fit together like a single work.
My main complaint is phonological: that he does lots of rhotic dissimilation, dropping r's in distracting places: litature for literature, booge-wah for bourgeois being the two most common. He also said Nee-chee for Nietzsche at at least one point, although he stabilized to Neechuh by the time he got to the last lecture about Nietzsche. My rational mind is tolerant of these faults but another more-judgmental voice in my head repeatedly kept thinking "How did you get a Ph.D. in Modern European Intellectual History saying litature the whole time!!" which distracted me from the lectures. Then again, if that's the worst complaint I have, you're doing pretty good, so still five stars.
Overall, really an excellent topic; I've been reading a lot of Axel Honneth and other latter-day Hegalians lately, and listening to Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast that goes through this period, and really seems like the history of ideas should be a more commonplace preoccupation. I'd rather talk about this lecture series at a cocktail party than a Netflix show or whatever. Also a bonus that it feeds pretty continuously into the European Thought And Culture In the 20th century series without any gap or overlap. I'm only about five lectures in to the 20th century one as I write this, but functionally they seem to fit together like a single work.
My main complaint is phonological: that he does lots of rhotic dissimilation, dropping r's in distracting places: litature for literature, booge-wah for bourgeois being the two most common. He also said Nee-chee for Nietzsche at at least one point, although he stabilized to Neechuh by the time he got to the last lecture about Nietzsche. My rational mind is tolerant of these faults but another more-judgmental voice in my head repeatedly kept thinking "How did you get a Ph.D. in Modern European Intellectual History saying litature the whole time!!" which distracted me from the lectures. Then again, if that's the worst complaint I have, you're doing pretty good, so still five stars.
June 26, 2022
An interesting mixture of philosophy, history and literature - I was familiar with some a lot of the literature (which was in line with what I had heard before) but learnt quite a good deal from the rest. The teacher presents the material clearly and in a logical sequence and is not at all quirky - I will now move on to the 20th century! I would recommend this (as well as most of the Great Courses) to people who are interested in facts and their background. It is not suitable for people seeking to be amused or entertained or for those who would like to hear bizarre theories.
May 5, 2025
To those unfamiliar with the study of intellectual history but familiar with The Great Courses, European Thought & Culture in the 19th Century may contain much less philosophy than one might expect. What it does contain is an introduction into what intellectual history is including the many approaches to it. Essentially this appears to be the relationship between historical events and ideas and values of the time, as they were in the minds of the people that lived in those times. The course introduces the Enlightenment, how that led to the French Revolution and thus how many –isms were spawned as a result: notably liberalism, utilitarianism, romanticism, socialism, industrial capitalism, Marxism, Hegelianism, positivism, feminism, nationalism.
As a period of intellectual history of a 100 years is summarised in just over 12 hours, no particular area is focused on in great detail; just enough information is shared in a lecture to allow the learner to understand the lecture(s). This may be as expected to those familiar with these courses. In fact, the learner may find these lectures easier to listen to than most – by not being required listeners to understand any individual component in much detail, the course seems more leisurely than demanding.
Prof. Lloyd S. Kramer discusses even uncomfortable themes in an unbiased way. Left, right and centrist views are discussed, as are racist, misogynist and elitist ones. Kramer is an excellent teacher by general university standards, but some of the other Great Courses lecturers may be slightly better. If anything stands out negatively, it is the focus on dates and lives of historical figures as opposed to the ideas themselves – a bias towards history over philosophy. In Kramer’s defence, his style seems consistent with intellectual history as he defines it.
Even if a learner is familiar with many of the taught ideas in isolation, Prof. Lloyd S. Kramer does an excellent job of tying these ideas together, enriching and consolidating the ideas in context. The course is a stark reminder that so many of our ideas and systems are dependent on key events of the past and responses to these events. Despite some minor criticisms, European Thought & Culture in the 19th Century should be considered a core title for those studying philosophy or history.
As a period of intellectual history of a 100 years is summarised in just over 12 hours, no particular area is focused on in great detail; just enough information is shared in a lecture to allow the learner to understand the lecture(s). This may be as expected to those familiar with these courses. In fact, the learner may find these lectures easier to listen to than most – by not being required listeners to understand any individual component in much detail, the course seems more leisurely than demanding.
Prof. Lloyd S. Kramer discusses even uncomfortable themes in an unbiased way. Left, right and centrist views are discussed, as are racist, misogynist and elitist ones. Kramer is an excellent teacher by general university standards, but some of the other Great Courses lecturers may be slightly better. If anything stands out negatively, it is the focus on dates and lives of historical figures as opposed to the ideas themselves – a bias towards history over philosophy. In Kramer’s defence, his style seems consistent with intellectual history as he defines it.
Even if a learner is familiar with many of the taught ideas in isolation, Prof. Lloyd S. Kramer does an excellent job of tying these ideas together, enriching and consolidating the ideas in context. The course is a stark reminder that so many of our ideas and systems are dependent on key events of the past and responses to these events. Despite some minor criticisms, European Thought & Culture in the 19th Century should be considered a core title for those studying philosophy or history.
August 17, 2017
Great stuff! I had no idea what I was getting when I bought the audiobook, but it turned out to be an informative course, delivered in a easy to listen, conversational style. The baroque interludes and faux applause are a bit dodgy, but the accompanying outline pdf is helpful. Kramer surprised me positively by including a brief but solid philosophy of history/social theory introduction. Marx and feminism get, deservedly, two lectures each. At the same time these show how superficial the treatment of individual thinkers is, but that is bound to be the case in a survey course such as this. All in all, sets a high standard for the Great Courses series, which I've now bought a couple more.
January 14, 2024
ENLIGHTENMENT
SCIENCE
PROGRESS (linked to science—because of science we can always know more than the generation before us)
SOCIAL REFORM
HEAVEN ON EARTH
EQUALITY
LIBERALISM—individual liberty
JACOBINISM—revolution
1. What is Intellectual History?
2. The Scientific Origins of the Enlightenment
Locke—epistemology—An Essay Concerning Human Understanding—radical empiricism—all knowledge comes from sensory experience and observation—tabula rasa—social environment shapes our beliefs, actions, knowledge—leads to strong desire for SOCIAL REFORM
3. The Emergence of the Modern Intellectual
French philosophes—Voltaire, Rousseau—heaven on earth
4. The Cultural Meaning of the French Revolution
EQUALITY becomes important to liberty. People must be equal to be free.
5. The New Conservatism in Post-Revolutionary Europe
Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre
6. The New German Philosophy
“If France is the home of the Enlightenment, then Germany is the home of the philosophical reaction against it. Herder, Fichte, and others created a potent blend of philosophical idealism and nationalism that would sweep the continent in nationalist opposition to Napoleon's conquests.”
7. Hegel’s Philosophical Conception of History
Every historical event has meaning.
8. The New Liberalism
British vs. French liberalism—Jeremy Bentham vs. Benjamin Constant
Liberalism—concerned with individual freedom (speech, religion, etc.)—change through peaceful measures vs. the left’s revolutionary tactics
9. The Literary Culture of Romanticism
Schelling, Madame de Staël and Lord Byron
10. The Meaning of the “Romantic Hero”
11. The Industrial Revolution and Classical Economics
12. Early Critiques of Industrial Capitalism
13. Hegelianism and the Young Marx
14. Marx’s Social Critique
CHANGE the world
15. Feminism in Nineteenth-Century Culture
16. Women’s Rights in a Man’s World
17. Tocqueville and Mill—Rethinking Liberal Theory
Mill—Individual liberty vs. the state
Tocqueville—LIBERTY vs. EQUALITY
18. Nationalisms and National Identities
Nationalism replaces declining religions for source of meaning and salvation.
19. The Novel as Art and Social Criticism
20. Science and Its Literary Critics
21. Charles Darwin and the New Biology
22. The Controversies of Social Darwinism
23. The Heroic Critic in Mass Society
24. Nietzsche’s Critique of European Culture
SCIENCE
PROGRESS (linked to science—because of science we can always know more than the generation before us)
SOCIAL REFORM
HEAVEN ON EARTH
EQUALITY
LIBERALISM—individual liberty
JACOBINISM—revolution
1. What is Intellectual History?
2. The Scientific Origins of the Enlightenment
Locke—epistemology—An Essay Concerning Human Understanding—radical empiricism—all knowledge comes from sensory experience and observation—tabula rasa—social environment shapes our beliefs, actions, knowledge—leads to strong desire for SOCIAL REFORM
3. The Emergence of the Modern Intellectual
French philosophes—Voltaire, Rousseau—heaven on earth
4. The Cultural Meaning of the French Revolution
EQUALITY becomes important to liberty. People must be equal to be free.
5. The New Conservatism in Post-Revolutionary Europe
Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre
6. The New German Philosophy
“If France is the home of the Enlightenment, then Germany is the home of the philosophical reaction against it. Herder, Fichte, and others created a potent blend of philosophical idealism and nationalism that would sweep the continent in nationalist opposition to Napoleon's conquests.”
7. Hegel’s Philosophical Conception of History
Every historical event has meaning.
8. The New Liberalism
British vs. French liberalism—Jeremy Bentham vs. Benjamin Constant
Liberalism—concerned with individual freedom (speech, religion, etc.)—change through peaceful measures vs. the left’s revolutionary tactics
9. The Literary Culture of Romanticism
Schelling, Madame de Staël and Lord Byron
10. The Meaning of the “Romantic Hero”
11. The Industrial Revolution and Classical Economics
12. Early Critiques of Industrial Capitalism
13. Hegelianism and the Young Marx
14. Marx’s Social Critique
CHANGE the world
15. Feminism in Nineteenth-Century Culture
16. Women’s Rights in a Man’s World
17. Tocqueville and Mill—Rethinking Liberal Theory
Mill—Individual liberty vs. the state
Tocqueville—LIBERTY vs. EQUALITY
18. Nationalisms and National Identities
Nationalism replaces declining religions for source of meaning and salvation.
19. The Novel as Art and Social Criticism
20. Science and Its Literary Critics
21. Charles Darwin and the New Biology
22. The Controversies of Social Darwinism
23. The Heroic Critic in Mass Society
24. Nietzsche’s Critique of European Culture
September 3, 2024
Really loved this! Many of these figures were already familiar to me from my history of psychology class, but it was great getting a refresh as well as learning about additional figures that contributed to the zeitgeist of the time period.
This lecture also made me grateful for my own time period, considering how long it has taken to achieve the basic rights we often take for granted. Generations of people have had to continuously challenge the ideas of the people before them to eventually reach this point in the modern world.
Along the way, these same ideas have also created dark outcomes like Social Darwinism and world wars. It hasn’t been a linear path and it is hard for us in our current thought climate to full heartedly agree with any of these figures, and yet their discussions and challenges against their own society are still what have eventually led to the shaping of the modern western world.
Really loved how illuminating this course was and I’ll definitely been listening to the next one.
This lecture also made me grateful for my own time period, considering how long it has taken to achieve the basic rights we often take for granted. Generations of people have had to continuously challenge the ideas of the people before them to eventually reach this point in the modern world.
Along the way, these same ideas have also created dark outcomes like Social Darwinism and world wars. It hasn’t been a linear path and it is hard for us in our current thought climate to full heartedly agree with any of these figures, and yet their discussions and challenges against their own society are still what have eventually led to the shaping of the modern western world.
Really loved how illuminating this course was and I’ll definitely been listening to the next one.
August 7, 2023
I like overviews. It allows one to make linkages between the things one already knows, and to also add to this knowledge in an orderly fashion. The material in this course / audiobook is very well organised and is a great help in making sense of the relation between many - often conflicting - mouvements of thoughts during this tumultuous century. The professor's oral "performance" could be more uplifting, but the material is there, and is clear. Thoroughly enjoyed!
February 10, 2023
European Thought and Culture in the 19th Century in the 19th Century by Lloyd Kramer is a very capable survey of 1800s intellectual thinkers and their contributions. At first, I was a bit wary of this one, as Kramer is a bit of a dry presenter and I thought he had the potential to make otherwise engaging material a little boring. Well, he grew on me. After a couple hours with the man, I began to respect his presentation and his content - albeit from an increased speed. I learned a bit from Kramer, though I am not sure how much I would recommend the course. Good material, but its a presentation style you need to get used to. Otherwise, your mind will wander or you will find yourself dozing off.
April 28, 2021
Engaging, but a little disjointed. Was expecting more tie in to historical events other than The French Revolution. Probably needed to be longer.
July 17, 2023
Get overview, doesn’t get bogged down with any specific thinker, switches from movements to individual thinkers well. The first lecture was a gem and worth relistening to.
August 22, 2011
Kramer notes that the prevailing intellectual culture of the early 20th century was filled with a belief in progress (and a sense of superiority relative to the past and other cultures) and an optimism about the future. Science (positive knowledge) and technology were the key in this inevitable and linear march through time. That belief system was undermined by such thinkers as Bergson (other levels of knowing than positive knowledge), Freud (the role of the unconscious), Einstein (time and space are not absolute), Durkheim (the role of non-rational social factors), Weber (the role of the charismatic, forceful leader), and Spengler (the decline of the West). Yet, it was the two World Wars that brought about a new line of thinking that stressed how to live in a world without absolutes (Sartre) or in the absence of the autonomous self (Foucault), along with various intellectual escapes through drugs, exotic cultures and imagination. By the end of the 20th century, European intellectual thought was less confident about the inevitability of progress and the capacity to control our future. Professor Kramer does a good job of presenting his material.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews