S. Contemporary Critical Thought

This seminar focuses, each year, on a different set of topics at the heart of contemporary critical theory in law, politics, and social inquiry. Last year, for instance, the seminar explored the writings of Karl Marx and organized around the public seminar Marx 13/13, which can be viewed here: https://marx1313.law.columbia.edu.

This coming year 2025-2026, the seminar will focus on legal and political thinkers and actors who "inverted" Hegel's thought. You can get a sense of the topics here at the website: https://hegel1313.law.columbia.edu Each seminar will triangulate one key Hegel text with one "inversion of Hegel" that shaped theory and practice, in conversation with one contemporary problem.

The graduate student seminar will be structured to frame a series of 13 formal public seminars at which guests, from different disciplines, will be invited to discuss the readings and present on the themes of the seminar. Each formal seminar will host specialists from across the disciplines, from Columbia University and from outside campus. It will prepare entries for the blog of the formal seminars, host the scholars invited to participate in the formal seminars, and prepare questions and comments for the formal seminars. This seminar will function as an advanced graduate research seminar.

The seminar will meet every week or so.