Course Instructor: Daniel Murphy
Course Texts: Harrison, A Short History of Western Civilization, Vol. 2; Weber, The Western Tradition, Vol. 2; Boorstin, The American Primer; Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death; Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind.
Course Evaluation: Students will write two 4 page essays. The first will be an analysis of the thought of Neil Postman, and will be due Sept. 18. The second will be an analysis of the thought of Allan Bloom, and will be due on the final exam date. Each paper will be worth 20% of the course grade. Students will take two exams, Oct. 20 and Nov. 29. Each will be worth 25% of the course grade. 10% of the course grade will be based on class attendance and discussion. Because the course will be conducted as a seminar, attendance at every class session is important. Any unexcused absences will be held against the course grade. The instructor reserves the right to increase the proportion of the final grade based on attendance and discussion in cases of repeated unexcused absences.
Course Purpose: In this course we will encounter the people and events which made the western world what it is. We will pay particular attention to certain themes that have dominated the history of the west, such as the rise of the scientific method, industrialism, capitalism, socialism, and the search for political liberty and equality. It is hoped that by studying the history of western civilization, students will be better able to appreciate the histories of other world civilizations.
Sept. 4 - Introduction
Sept. 6 - Postman 1-2
Sept. 7 - Postman 3-5
Sept. 8 - Postman 6-8
Sept. 11 - Postman 9-11
Sept. 13 - H35; W151-162
Sept. 14 - H32; W178-194
Sept. 15 - W249-266
Sept. 18 - H33; W194-206
Sept. 20 - H31; W243-248
Sept. 21 - H34; B21, 28-41
Sept. 22 - B50-63, 67-75
Sept. 25 - H36; W225-232, 239-242
Sept. 27 - H37; W270-273; B86-89, 96-98
Sept. 28 - B191-194, 213-227
Sept. 29 - H38; W273-288
Oct. 4 - W291-299, 304-308
Oct. 5 - H39, H42; W311-319, 323-327
Oct. 6 - H43; W394-409
Oct. 9 - H40; W370-381
Oct. 11 - W349-370
Oct. 12 - H41; W328-333, 339-347
Oct. 13 - B302-318
Oct. 18 - B337-356
Oct. 19 - H44; W389-394, 478-483, 508-512
Oct. 20 - Exam I
Oct. 23 - H49; B260-272, 436-437, 442-444
Oct. 25 - B572-577, 582-590, 656-660
Oct. 26 - H48, H50; W514-526
Oct. 27 - H45; B519-530; W434-444
Oct. 30 - W419-434
Nov. 1 - H46; B515-516; W451-461
Nov. 2 - H47; W495-503
Nov. 3 - B712-728
Nov. 6 - H51; B799-805, 808-816; W540-544
Nov. 8 - H52; W487-494, 555-560, 572-577
Nov. 9 - H53; W581-593
Nov. 10 - H54; B873-877; W594-606
Nov. 13 - H55; W635-643
Nov. 15 - H56; B909-912, 916-920; W662-663, 666-667
Nov. 16 - H58; W526-531
Nov. 17 - H57; B924-925; W683-692
Nov. 20 - H59; W671-680
Nov. 27 - W701-722
Nov. 29 - Exam II
Nov. 30 - Bloom 25-43
Dec. 1 - Bloom 47-81
Dec. 4 - Bloom 82-108
Dec. 6 - Bloom 109-137
Dec. 7 - Bloom 141-173
Dec. 8 - Bloom 217-240