Humanities

680:021 Humanities I

Section 5 9:00 - 10:50 MW Professor Schnucker

Section 18 1:00 - 2:50 MW

Section 19 3:00 - 4:50 MW

A survey of the Western tradition from the beginning through the 16th century, together with study of selected classic works of literature, religion, and philosophy.

Text: Spielvogel, Western Civilization, 4th edition; Brophy, Epstein, Nilan, Roberston and Safley. Perspectives from the past, Volume I.

Section 7 10:00 MTWTh Professor Robinson

Every age of history is rooted in the age before it. The 21^st Century is derived from the 50 centuries previous to this one. Ancient humanity was our great grandfathers and great grandmothers. What they did and what they thought is the foundation of what we do and what we think. History is about people and so the dynamics of history are the dynamics of the human psyche.

In this course, we study the great books and ideas that shaped Western civilization from the earliest days through the Renaissance and Reformation. I focus on different ways of seeing the human interact with the divine, the dynamics of social class, and we take an occasional look at the way men have fought and died. When dealing with the historical material, emphasis is placed on those elements of the past most influential in shaping the present. Above all, we are to learn that events have causes and actions have consequences.

Text: Spielvogel, Western Civilization, Vol I; The Epic of Gilgamesh; Homer, Iliad; Sophocles, Antigone, Bible; Dante, Inferno; Macbeth; Machiavelli, The Prince; Bible.

Section 6 10:00 MTWTh Professor Soneson

Section 20 3:30 - 5:20 TTh eve

This course examines the story of Western culture from its prehistorical beginnings through the religious reformations and wars of the 16th and 17^th centuries. This is clearly a tale of love and war, good and evil, persuasion and coercion. Yet what difference does all this make for us today? This central issue will be addressed by considering the idea of "civilization." What is civilized about our tale? What is civilization? What is it to be civilized? These questions will run as a sort of critical counter theme in the telling of our story for the purpose of helping us think more significantly about the sort of social and cultural

order which we have inherited.

Text: Lerner, et al., Western Civilization, Vol. 1.; The Epic of Gilgamesh,; Bible, The New Revised Edition, Zondervan. (No exceptions to this version); Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays; Augustine, Confessions; Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales; Luther, Christian Liberty; Shakespere, Hamlet; Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates; Soneson, Humanities I Notebook – purchased at Copy Works on College Hill.

This course provides an opportunity to analyze the subjective aspects of African American life through an analysis of the world view derived from African/African American religious and philosophical thought. Through this analysis, the distinctiveness of the African American culture is advanced as one way to approach an understanding of the challenges and strategies that have been pursued historically and in contemporary society. Primary attention, then, is given to the belief systems that have directed the actions of African Americans in the areas of education, economics, politics, and self-sufficiency. Informed dialogue, readings, videos, and speakers are included in this course.

Examination of key issues of gender. Attention to variety of topics including ethical issues and gender roles, gender-role stereotyping, male and female roles, sexuality, gender roles in non-western and minority cultures, and gender roles in United States institutions, e.g., in the nuclear family, religion, and the work place.