Critical Philosophy of Race | Humanities & Social Sciences

Critical Philosophy of Race

Course Number: 
HSL656
LTP structure: 
3-0-0
Discipline: 
Literature
Credit: 
3.0

Pre-requisite

N/A

Course Objective

To introduce students to:
• Early formulations of the idea and concept of race
• Eugenics, biopower
• Science and race
• Different types of racism and race theories (based on biology, language, culture)
• Systemic/ structural racism - Slavery, Nazism, colonialism & segregation, Caste

Course Content

This course will focus on race, institutions of racism, and the histories of race theories. It will address the following questions: what kind of difference does the word race connote, and is this connotation stable or historically changing in relation to racist institutions and practices such as slavery, colonialism, Nazism, caste? Is race a biological concept (about the body) or a social and cultural concept (i.e., a relational concept)? Can racism be combatted by scientific refutation of false notions of race or by some other efforts at the social and cultural level? Why are the contemporary forms of racism a continuation of older forms in many respects, and why are they unaffected by scientific dismissals of the concept of “race”?

The information provided here may not be updated. Please check UG/PG section for updated course offering data.