Schedule

Lesson

Assignments, Readings, Discussions, and Exams
All readings should be completed before the class on which they are listed.

Course Introduction; Class Standards and Policies; Assignment: Go online to the Dixie OWL <http://dsc.dixie.edu/owl/>; click on Humanities syllabus; then click on the links to “Corn Pone Opinions” and “Ophelia Syndrome”; then read the two essays. After reading Twain’s essay and that by Plummer, write a one to two page essay explaining why, from their writings and your own thinking, we all tend to conform so closely to the ideas that are prevalent at the time in our culture. Also, list briefly the suggestions that Plummer gives to help us avoid the “Ophelia Syndrome.” Lastly, identify, if you can, some idea or practice in our culture that is generally accepted but troubles you in some way. This will be due August 30th.
Handout: “Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment”

humanint PPT

Feudalism and Renaissance: Read Appendix 1, “Corn Pone Opinions,” “Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment,” and “Ophelia Syndrome” (All reading assignments should be completed before you come to class);

Discuss the take-home writing (described above) on the two online essays. Discuss Corn Pone Opinions, Ophelia Syndrome, Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment, and Emily Dickinson poems; Play NPR tape;

Film on Renaissance Art;

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Cont’d. Discussion of Corn Pone Opinions and Ophelia Syndrome; Watch film on Galileo

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Due: Short essay based on “Corn pone Opinions” and “Ophelia Syndrome” readings. After reading Twain’s essay and that by Plummer, write a one to two page essay explaining why, from their writings and your own thinking, we all tend to conform so closely to the ideas that are prevalent at the time in our culture. Also, list briefly the suggestions that Plummer gives to help us avoid the “Ophelia Syndrome.” Lastly, identify, if you can, some idea or practice in our culture that is generally accepted but troubles you in some way. Be careful: do not write about ideas or practices that are common, but are still seen as somewhat taboo. For example, drinking, using drugs, and having pre-marital sex may be common, but they are still generally taboo.

galileo PPT

Introduction to Galileo’s writings; Read Knoebel Text, 1-9: Galileo; Always read the introductions; they can be valuable. It is important to note two things in this essay: first, notice that Galileo used a fictional dialog to present the ideas, rather than stating them directly; in order to avoid identifying himself with the heretical views. Secondly, notice that the character promoting heliocentrism is relying upon observation to describe the theoretical orbit of the earth around the sun, not relying on the traditional teachings of ancient scholars.In other words, he (Galileo) was doing science in a modern way.

DISCUSSION QUESTION FOR A QUIZ; QUIZZES WILL BE ASSIGNED EITHER AS TAKE-HOME WRITINGS (DQ’s) TO BE DONE IN ADVANCE OF CLASS OR AS SHORT OBJECTIVE QUIZZES TO BE GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. Listen for my instructions in class: if I do not tell you to do the DQ, then be prepared for a short, in-class quiz.

(DQ): A) Describe what Galileo does and says in the first few pages to avoid the criticism of the church for his views about the earth which he knew the Church had condemned (If you need to use a dictionary, please do.). (Each of the DQ's are intended to serve two purposes: first, they should help you prepare for the take-home writing or the in-class quiz; second, you should be prepared to discuss the ideas with others in the class. These questions are intended to make the material relevant to our own lives and to give evidence of your preparation.)

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Text, 10-19: Bacon; Francis Bacon: In its way, this writing is as revolutionary as Galileo's. Bacon is challenging the method of learning which had been practiced for a thousand years. He is opposed to authoritative, traditional, deductive ways of learning. Rather, he argues we should observe nature, which is what Galileo had done. What are the enemies of truth? What are the four classes of idols that interfere with human rational thought?

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20-30: Descartes: Descartes, like Galileo and Bacon, is continuing to challenge tradition and authority. He proposed rejecting every idea which we hold, even the idea that we exist. Then, he proposes, we should use reason to establish ideas which can be held with confidence. What are Descartes' four rules of logic? What is his first principle of philosophy? How does he prove that he himself exists? Descartes expresses a distrust for learning through observation. Do you agree? What is meant by Cartesian dualism? DQ: How does Descartes reason through the proofs that God exists? Do you think the existence of God can be proven by reason and Cartesian logic, or is belief in God more a matter of faith and spiritual intuition?

descartes PPT

43-58: Pascal; Pascal, like Descartes, is known as a brilliant mathematician. However, he felt that defending the existence of God based on reason was not the best way; he was a passionate defender of the importance of Faith in human existence.In some ways, Pascal seems quite modern: as a scientist/mathematician, he is aware of reasons to question the existence of God; as man of faith, he is aware of the appeal of faith. DQ: Select and write down five of Pascal’s statements that most interest you, explaining why they appeal to you.

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Read Appendix 2; PPT: Shift from Renaissance to the Age of Reason; Art Film

ageofreason PPT

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31-42: Thomas Hobbes; Hobbes is one of the first thinkers to propose a society based on what is often known as a "social contract." Rather than accepting the renaissance view that God had given to royalty The Divine Right of Kings (the right from God to govern humanity), Hobbes argues that all rights are determined here on earth, among the people and by the people, including the right to govern as well as other rights we commonly think of.

Identify Hobbes's first and second laws of nature? What are the reasons that humans are continually in a state of war when they are left alone in nature? Hobbes claims that we must all give up personal freedom so that the state can be harmonious and secure.

Hobbes’ description of the way we would live without strict laws and punishments also raises philosophic questions about whether individuals are fundamentally good or evil; that is a question argued since the time of Plato until our own time.

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68-82: John Locke; John Locke; Locke has been called the grandfather of our American system of government because of his confidence that men can rule themselves fairly and reasonably. DQ: How does Locke describe humans in a state of nature without a government? How does he differ from Hobbes in his view of human nature? Explain why you find Locke or Hobbes more convincing.

What is the source of the "natural law of reason" that seems to govern humans. How do we humans acquire property? What are the limits to property rights? If things are generally good in a state of nature, why do people join together in a political society? What are the limits to the power of the state? What should the people do if the state violates their rights? Do you see the influence of Locke on our American form of government?

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Review for Exam # 1: Handout Take-home essay questions

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Exam # 1 will be taken in the testing center; we will not meet in the class room.

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83-94: Alexander Pope; Pope was deeply influenced by a German philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz. Leibniz's Theodicy (1710) had asserted the following principles:
I. Truths of philosophy and theology can't contradict.
II. God chose from many possible worlds. Obviously, this is the best of all possible worlds. Therefore, all possible worlds must contain some evil.
III. We are necessarily imperfect--humans could not be as perfect as our creator.
IV. Man has free will. God has foreknowledge, but that does not predestine us.
V. Man's rational nature, which is his soul (remember Descartes) is an approximation of God's nature.
When Pope asserts "Whatever is, is right," he is expressing an important Enlightenment idea that is mentioned above in Leibniz’s second principle.. What is it? Do you find flaws in Pope's reasoning? Notice how Pope's very poetic form, with its emphasis upon exact form and repetition, is itself a representation of the emphasis on reason and order of his age.

The idea of an elaborate chain of being, ranging from God down to the lowest life forms, was an important idea to Pope and others in the Age of Reason. DQ: Pope often refers to the gradation of all created beings and the importance of humans accepting their own role in a larger scheme (ladder of creation). Identify several passages which show Pope’s confidence that there is a divine order in the existence of all beings.

pope PPT

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95-130: Voltaire’s Candide; This is long; start early. Voltaire uses satire to ridicule some of the excesses of the Age of Reason, as he saw them. Point out how Candide is a mockery of Pope and Leibniz. What are other organizations or ideas that are mocked in Candide? DQ: Pangloss repeats the ideas of Pope and Leibniz over and over, but it becomes clear that Voltaire does not want his readers to believe Pangloss’s ideas nor those of Pope and Leibniz. What are the clues that this novel is a satire?
Block Classes begin.

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Read Appendix 3;

Discuss the Shift from Age of Reason to Romantic age; PPT Slide show

romanticism PPT

Read Appendix 4: Romantic Poetry(Read the poems carefully; you will be asked to match lines and authors on the next exam);

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299-322; Thoreau; Thoreau is particularly well known in our time as someone who loved nature with the same kinds of feelings expressed by the English Romanticists. He was also an independent thinker who taught the idea of peaceful civil disobedience. He influenced the political and ethical views of Ghandi and Martin Luther King. What value did Thoreau place on such institutions as the post office and the newspaper? Specifically, what were some of the things the U.S. Government was doing that Thoreau thought to be evil? Given that unjust laws exist, how does Thoreau propose that we should behave toward the government? DQ: Identify two or more characteristics of romanticism in the excerpt from Walden. How is Thoreau like Locke? How do they differ?

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Semester Break: No classes

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Film: Sense and Sensibility; Assignment: After viewing this film, write and submit a summary (about 2 pages) of how the author and director use the two sisters in this film to represent the differing ways of thinking and feeling in the Age of Reason and in the Romantic Age. Identify which sister represents which way of thinking and give specific examples of what they say and how they act that help you identify their views. Also, tell us which view you believe Jane Austen (the author) and Ang Lee (the director) is saying is better. Do not merely give a plot summary! (20 Points)
Last day to drop or audit

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Film (Continued)

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Due: 2 page essay on Sense and Sensibility

323-31; Mill; John Stuart Mill is a well known nineteenth-century philosopher. First, he wrote a short treatise on personal liberty that has had a profound effect on modern thinkers. In short, Mill argues that the only reason for which any person or government may control or restrict the actions of someone is to prevent harm to others. This idea is sometimes called libertarianism. (This idea of extensive personal freedom does not pertain to children or to others who are not capable of rational discourse, however, according to Mill.)

Society should make no law whose aim is to protect a person from harming oneself. For example, laws against mountain climbing or using drugs would not be right, from Mill’s perspective. Seat belt laws (except for children), life preserver laws, laws against pornography (except child pornography), polygamy, and prostitution would all be struck down, because they really aim to protect someone from her own bad choices. The first selection in our text is a defense of free thought and free speech. DQ: When, if ever, do you think the government has a right to impose laws which force us (that is, rational adults) not to harm ourselves, even though we may do no direct harm to others? You might consider laws such as those against drug use, gambling, pornography, polygamy, prostitution, homosexual marriage, and assisted suicide.
Review of Writing Scholarly Papers: Read Appendix 5;

Also, you may go online to the Dixie College Home Page, point to Academics , then click on Online Writing Lab (or go directly to < www.dsc.dixie.edu/owl/>, and then click on MLA Style to get additional information about source supported writing.
Review of Internet sources and methods of searching.

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Use this day for library and internet research related to your paper topic. We will not meet in the classroom.

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332-337; Mill (con’t.) Secondly, Mill is known because of his defense of an ethical system known as utilitarianism. In short, that means that when we make an ethical choice, we ought to try to bring about the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and we ought to bring about the least pain by our choices. For example, we don't just look at the rule against lying and never lie. Rather, if we can see that by lying we might protect innocent people from pain or keep our country out of the clutches of an enemy, then the ethical choice would be to lie. In other words, we decide what is right by looking at what the consequences will likely be. How do you respond to Mill's views? To what extent do you agree? When might you differ?

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635-49; Virginia Woolf; The writings of Virginia Woolf suggest some of the difficulties experienced by women as they moved into areas traditionally considered off-limits. DQ: Woolf tells a fanciful story of Shakespeare’s sister and her attempt to undertake a writing career. Why was Shakespeare’s sister unable to succeed? What do women need today to succeed?

PPT: An Historical Look at Views of Women

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Film: Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Come early: this is long.); Discussion of Nora’s decision at the end of the play. (Assign paper?)

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Film: Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Continued)

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Career Day—No daytime classes

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Film: Burke: Darwin’s Revolution; PPT?

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Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection: PPT ;

350-66; Darwin; Darwin's writings give us a glimpse of the way in which an earlier society had responded to Galileo. Even today, it is likely that many of us will respond to Darwin's theories based on an intuitive or traditional way of understanding nature, not based on the empirical evidences for evolution.
That is also the way people had responded to Galileo. If the Bible said the sun stood still at some time in the Bible, that meant it must have ordinarily moved around the earth. If the church leaders said the moon was perfectly round and perfectly smooth, then there was no need to look into a silly telescope and see the mountains and valleys Galileo described. They simply didn't exist! In the same manner, some people have responded to Darwin’s theories. Evidences for the great age of the earth, evidences that all living creatures are related to each other, evidences that living creatures are related to the now extinct species of the distant past whom we study through fossil remains--all these can be ignored if one is convinced that all creatures came into existence some 6000 years ago and that the earth is also just a few thousand years old.
It is important to note that Darwin did not introduce the idea of evolution; many other scientists had already done that. What he did was give superb scientific evidence for the idea that evolution took place through natural selection. That is, he proposed that the struggle for survival that all creatures engage in helped "select" features that made one creature more likely to survive. He claimed that natural selection was much like artificial selection. Just as the farmer takes his best milk-producing cow to the best bull to be bred by "artificial selection," nature selected its fastest cheetahs, best camouflaged moths, and strongest mountain goats to breed and pass on their traits to future generations. The idea was simple, and Darwin's research was so thorough, that no serious scholar could dismiss evolutionary thought easily from that time on. DQ: Evolutionary thought is now the standard in all sciences. Summarize Darwin’s discussion of how the selection of variation among domesticated animals could be similar among animals found in nature, particularly his ideas on pages 354-357.

Review for Exam # 2; Take-home essay questions for Exam # 2; Exam # 2 will be taken in the testing center

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PPT: Introduction to the Age of Modernism; Read Appendix 6; Art film

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SCHOLARLY PAPER DUE;
535-45, Einstein; This selection introduces us to one of the great minds of the 20th century. The selection by Einstein tells us nothing of his great discoveries regarding the Law of Relativity. Rather, here is one of the world's greatest scientists trying to make sense of what it means to be human and what religion means. Notice how deeply he has been influenced by people like Darwin, Marx, Freud, and others whose ideas seem to imply that we humans have no free will. Although he rejects standard religions, he still clings to a "humanistic" religiosity. DQ: Why does Einstein reject the idea of God as an anthropomorphic (i.e., humanlike) God who is like a judge who rewards and punishes his children? What is his own "religiosity" based on?

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546-59, Sigmund Freud: This essay was a reply to a letter from Einstein discussing the causes of war and possible ways to erase the forces that lead to war. DQ: What does Freud identify as the causes of war? How is Freud’s thinking similar to that of Hobbes? What are the direct and indirect ways that we can seek to avoid wars? PPT Modern Poetry Influences

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Last class day;
PPT: Modern Poetry

650-63; Modern Poetry; Read the following poems: Frost-- “After Apple-Picking”; Sassoon-- “A Working Party”; Owen-- “Dulce et Decorum Est”; Yeats-- “The Second Coming”; and Auden-- “The Unknown Citizen.” Review these poems carefully; you will be asked to match lines and authors on the Final Exam.

Review for Final Exam: The final exam will consist of 55 objective questions that you will answer on a scantron. The exam will be based on the readings since the last exam, including the poetry and the appendices. There will also be several questions from the last few PowerPoint presentations.