GLIB
5542

The Making of the Modern World

New School for Social Research: Liberal Studies

Liberal Arts
Graduate Course
Majors Only
The Making of the Modern World
Fall 2025
Taught By: Paul Kottman
Section: A

CRN: 8656

Credits: 3

This course presents an interpretation and an evaluation of the fate of modernity, as understood by some of the most influential thinkers of the past 250 years -- and involving different currents in the arts, social history, cultural theory, politics and philosophy. 'Modernity' is understood here to entail such things as the emergence of the nation-state; ambitious claims for the authority of reason in human affairs; the increasing authority of the natural sciences; the advent of a discourse of natural or human rights; aesthetic modernism; capitalism and the free market; globalization; social movements that take up new demands of mutuality, from feminism to the labor movement. These issues are addressed through (likely) readings of works by Hobbes, Rousseau, Du Bois, de Beauvoir, Arendt and others -- alongside consideration of a range of cultural products and social practices. (Required core-core for Liberal Studies MA students)

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites
Co-Requisites: No Co-requisites

College: New School for Social Research (GF)

Department: Liberal Studies (LBS)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 21

Repeat Limit: 2

Add/Drop Deadline: September 9, 2025 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 17, 2025 (Monday)

Seats Available: Yes

* Seats available but reserved for a specific population.

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 6:18pm EDT 4/25/2025

Meeting Info:
Days: Wednesday
Times: 4:00pm - 5:50pm
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 8/27/2025 - 12/15/2025