Course Objectives

The course aims to give students a broad overview of central tendencies and lines of development in Norwegian intellectual thought from the Middle Ages until the present. Students will learn how Norwegian beliefs and ideas evolved in a European and Nordic, as well as a distinctly Norwegian context. The course will help students develop a deeper understanding of Norwegian culture as it appears today.

Course Description

The curriculum of around 800 pages is divided into two equally large components: Students will read excerpts from Norsk Idéhistorie, for a general overview, in addition to a selection of original texts, mainly from the anthology Norsk Tro og Tanke. The original texts are divided into the following eight areas: (1) belief and doubt; (2) the national; (3) politics and ideology; (4) views of women and feminism; (5) poetry; (6) classics of science; (7) manners and education; (8) the Norwegian language struggle.

The course will demonstrate how different ideas and positions oppose each other within different areas, at the same time revealing their interconnectivity. Students must write a term paper, the topic of which must be agreed with the supervisor. Compulsory supervision.

Learning Methods

Lectures and seminars 3 hours per week.

Assessment Methods

A mid-term examination counts for 40% of the final grade. Final written examination counts for 60%. Students must receive passing marks in both the mid-term examination and the final examination in order to achieve a passing mark for the course. Graded marks.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean