Free University of Berlin

This course begins by covering the classical concept of the totalitarian state, as developed by Hannah Arendt and others, taking Hitler and Stalin as their models. Subsequent modifications and debates regarding the theory of totalitarianism, especially in the Soviet Empire, are discussed. The course questions what popular attitudes and psychological reactions exist towards totalitarian atrocities, such as the Holocaust, and under what psychological conditions are individuals capable of offering resistance. While these phenomena may now appear to be bygones of merely historical interest, the psychological aspects of “totalitarian situations” remain acutely important, even in present-day democratic societies. The massacre in My Lai, the obedience experiments carried out by Stanley Milgram, and other psychological studies provide shocking evidence of how easily average citizens are in danger of behaving inhumanely in social situations.

This course serves as an introduction to the field of environmental communication: What does it entail, what should it achieve, who are the intended recipients, and what is the intended outcome? The course studies some theoretical texts, addressing “the two cultures,” “framing,” and “technocratic discourse.” The course then analyzes political speeches about environmental policy and a manifesto. Finally, the course looks at the genesis of scientific and literary nature writing and studies extracts from classics such as Henry David Thoreau’s WALDEN or Rachel Carson’s SILENT SPRING as well as more recent texts by British and American authors. The course analyzes how these different texts operate, what they aim to accomplish and whether they succeed.

Berlin is an inspiring metropolis, a place of attraction for creative people and art and culture professionals from Germany and all over the world. Artists of all kinds, designers (including fashion), and technology experts are just as much a part of it as publishers, galleries, the music industry, or the film industry. Berlin is a focal mirror, a projection surface and a platform for a "creative class" (Richard Florida) and at the same time an urban-cultural incubator of a new lifestyle, of creative working practices of aesthetic capitalism. This seminar provides an overview of the creative industries in Berlin - their diverse fields, individual industries and players, and their self-image.

Metaphysics is one of the central areas of philosophy. Historically, it has been referred to as the study of ”being qua being” and as ”first philosophy'” but has also been rejected as mere speculation or nonsense. Today, one might say that metaphysics is the systematic reflection on certain fundamental structures of reality and our place in it. The seminar introduces students to contemporary (analytic) metaphysics, focusing on a selection of six topics: free will; possibilities and possible worlds; laws of nature; ontology or ”what there is”; properties, universals and realism; and the aims and possibility of metaphysics. The course reads and discusses classic texts from the 20th century as well as some very recent work. Each topic is addressed by two texts which take opposing stances, thus giving students an idea of the central debates. Many (but not all) texts are taken from Helen Beebee + Julian Dodd, ”READING METAPHYSICS: SELECTED TEXTS WITH INTERACTIVE COMMENTARY,” Blackwell 2007.

The course provides a theoretical foundation in the development of green and sustainable solutions within the economic context of Germany and Europe and develops an understanding of how sustainable entrepreneurship is unfolding creative potential and opportunities for environmental improvements using core business activities. The course equips students with more practical tools and processes for developing their own business ideas for the green economy. This course provides an introduction to recent developments in Germany and the European Union (EU) with regard to a green and sustainable economy. This course begins by exploring key concepts for a green and sustainable economy in the German and European policy contexts and then looks at the development that has taken place both at the political level and in the economy in recent time. It then focuses on the micro-level of the businesses themselves and discusses the motivating forces behind entrepreneurs' and businesses' decisions to make a strategic commitment to environmental sustainability. Students consider the roles and strategies of different types of companies and how incumbents and start-ups engage in environmental protection. The course also looks at the strong connection between politics and business in the European context and the inclination of many sustainable entrepreneurs to engage in policy making in a manner that also turns them into “institutional” entrepreneurs, acting at a meso-level. Finally, the more theoretical part of the course looks at how sustainable entrepreneurs may encounter market and regulatory barriers related to environmental externalities, path dependencies, and lobbying activities by incumbent companies. It also looks at (partial) solutions to such barriers provided by incubators, business competitions, universities, investors, and public funding programs. The more practical part of the course engages with good practice examples through the entrepreneurs themselves (guest speakers) and by going on a field-trip. As Berlin has a special reputation for hosting a vibrant start-up scene, students visit the Green Garage on the Euref campus in Schöneberg, where they learn more about the acceleration and incubation processes of the EU initiative “Climate KIC”, and meet the start-ups based there. The students also are encouraged to creatively develop their own business ideas and plan the initial steps using the Sustainable Business Canvas. Their business concept/model is then presented and discussed in the group, providing tips for future improvement and possible realization of the ideas.