H111 Foundations of the Modern Age
Winter 2001
Murphy
Course Instructor: Daniel Murphy
office - Classic 312
office hours - MWRF 10-11, MWF1-2 and appts.; phone – 7222; email - 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 Jan. 22. 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, Feb. 19 and April 4. 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.
Jan. 8 – Introduction
Jan. 10 - Postman 1-2
Jan. 11 - Postman 3-5
Jan. 12 - Postman 6-8
Jan. 15 - Postman 9-11
Jan. 17 - H35; W151-162
Jan. 18 - H32; W178-194
Jan. 19 - W249-266
Jan. 22 - H33; W194-206
Jan. 24 - H31; W243-248
Jan. 25 - H34; B21, 28-41
Jan. 26 - B50-63, 67-75
Jan. 29 - H36; W225-232, 239-242
Jan. 31 - H37; W270-273; B86-89, 96-98
Feb. 1 - B191-194, 213-227
Feb. 2 - H38; W273-288
Feb. 5 - W291-299, 304-308
Feb. 7 - H39, H42; W311-319, 323-327
Feb. 8 - H43; W394-409
Feb. 9 - H40; W370-381
Feb. 12 - W349-370
Feb. 14 - H41; W328-333, 339-347
Feb. 15 - B302-318
Feb. 16 - B337-356
Feb. 19 – Exam I
Feb. 21 - H44; W389-394, 478-483, 508-512
Feb. 22 - H49; B260-272, 436-437, 442-444
Feb. 23 - B572-577, 582-590, 656-660
March 5 - H48, H50; W514-526
March 7 - H45; B519-530; W434-444
March 8 - W419-434
March 9- H46; B515-516; W451-461
March 12 - H47; W495-503
March 14 - B712-728
March 15 – B631-641, 764-772
March 16 - H51; B799-805, 808-816; W540-544
March 19 - H52; W487-494, 555-560, 572-577
March 21 - H53; W581-593
March 22 - H54; B873-877; W594-606
March 23 - H55; W635-643
March 26 - H56; B909-912, 916-920; W662-663, 666-667
March 28 - H58; W526-531
March 29 - H57; B924-925; W683-692
March 30 - H59; W671-680
April 2- W701-722
April 4 - Exam II
April 5 - Bloom 25-43
April 6 - Bloom 47-81
April 9 - Bloom 82-108
April 11 - Bloom 109-137
April 12 - Bloom 141-173
April 13 - Bloom 217-240