Interdisciplinary Studies
Humanities (IH) 2710
Fall, 2003
Philosophy and Literature
Instructor: Ronald Aronson (o: [313] 577-0828; fax: 577-8585; h: [248] 548-7370)
Course texts: Plato, The Republic (Cornford translation), Kafka,The Metamorphosis, Camus, The Stranger, Achebe, Things Fall Apart
The class meets Thursday, 6:00-9:40 pm
Office Hours: I will be available at least one hour every week for meetings with directed study participants and for general office hours. Please make an appointment to see me during that time.
General Education Requirement:
GUH 2710 fulfills the University General Education requirement in Philosophy and Letters. PL courses enhance understanding and enjoyment, while developing the fundamental skills of analysis, interpretation, and evaluation, and applying them to primary philosophical and literary materials.
Course Plan:
This lower-division class will begin by closely studying one of key texts of Western culture, Plato's Republic. Students are expected to learn it thoroughly and in detail. We will consider at length its statement of justice. Then we will study three modern works of fiction dealing with the same theme, considering them as great literary and cultural statements.
Student Responsibilities and Requirements
The Contract. As students you have a right to expect that your instructor will come to class prepared, treat you with respect, and conduct class in a scholarly manner. Being learners and not consumers, students growth and development entail a corresponding commitment: coming to class prepared, treating the instructor and fellow students with respect, and taking all aspects of class participation seriously. Students are required to be punctual and to attend every class session in full. Participation entails active involvement in class discussion and all activities, scholarly demeanor, and respect for the classroom process and the opinions of others.
The purpose of this course is to help students develop their capacity to think. As a course focusing on ideas, its lifeblood is class discussion. This is a collective process, requiring tolerance, openness, and careful listening. Each participant has a right to expect this of the others.
Grading procedures. Attendance and participation are calculated as 25% of the total final grade, and this figure is subject to deductions for absences, lateness, missed assignments, and inappropriate behavior. Any student absent three or more times will be dropped from the course and given the grade of X. Missed assignments must be made up, including viewing any missed videos. Each missed class not made up counts as 1/2 grade. IN THE EVENT OF ABSENCE, CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT. Because much of the course involves active learning, be sure to keep up with any session you miss.
Writing. THE ISP IS A WRITING-INTENSIVE PROGRAM, AND STUDENTS’ WRITTEN WORK IS GRADED BOTH FOR FORM AND CONTENT. The grade on written assignments will be 75% of the final grade, and close attention will be paid to writing mechanics. The grader for the course is Dr. Karen McDevitt. She can be reached at: <IH2710@aol.com>
Assigned papers include:
(1) First-week paper (2%)
(2) 4 Short papers on readings as assigned (20%)
(3) 4 Quizzes on readings (20%)
(4) A paper on The Republic (750-1000 words) (15%)
(5) A final paper (1000-1500 words) on the theme of justice in
the three literary works (18%)
Note: Grades on late papers will be lowered by 1/2 grade for each day turned in late. Dr. McDevitt will email a confirmation of papers received within 24 hours. If you have not received a confirmation, she does not have your paper.
Grades on papers.
A = Excellent (A is equivalent to 4.00 HPA; A- equivalent to 3.67). Well-written and well-argued with a clear thesis statement, sustained focus on the thesis, plenty of well-developed examples, and use of relevant readings from the text. May contain original ideas or insights.
B = Good (B+ 3.33 HPA; B 3.00; B- 2.67). A strong presentation but may not adequately develop one or more of the above areas.
C = Average (C+ 2.33 HPA; C 2.00; C- l.67). Shows understanding of the issues and readings, but a thin presentation, weak in key areas or does not touch upon key points. May also have writing problems.
D = Poor but still passing (D+ 1.33 HPA; D 1.00; D- 0.67). A cursory presentation lacking in examples and support from the text, and or serious writing problems. May show inadequate reading or reflection.
E = Not acceptable (E or F = 0.00 HPA). Inadequate effort.
R = Returned for revision. Automatic for D and E papers until the final week.
Final Grades. ALL course requirements must be fulfilled to receive a final grade in the A to C minus range. Students who do not complete all course requirements will receive a grade in the D to E range, or, where insufficient work has been done to assign a grade and at the instructor’s discretion, a student may be given an X.
A student who is unable to complete the final assignment but has completed most of the course work AND has notified the instructor of his or her intention to complete the remaining work by a given date may, at the instructor’s discretion, be granted an I until the work is made up and a final letter grade assigned. At the end of one year, the University regards the I as an X and the course must be retaken. Extensions are difficult to obtain.
Plagiarism, Citation and Rough-Draft Policies. Plagiarism is not tolerated at Wayne State University; students who pass off the work of others as their own will receive a failing grade. Whether quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing, or alluding, you must provide proper documentation of sources following Trimmer's Guide to MLA Documentation (4th edition) or the MLA Handbook (Fifth Edition). Since one of the most important sites of learning is the margins of papers, I encourage rough drafts and ongoing discussion of papers by E-mail.
SCHEDULE
I. What is Philosophy?
9/4 Introduction and first assignment: Philosophy Today
In-class writing assignment
Tips for studying
9/11 Plato’s Republic
Reading assignment: Plato, The Republic, 1-41
In-class quiz. Discussion questions: What is wrong with the conceptions of justice presented by Cephalus, Polemarchus, and Thrasymachus? Why begin with wrong ideas?
9/18 An Ideal Society
Reading assignment: 41-102
In-class writing assignment: (1) Why does Plato create an ideal society? And: (2) Do you agree with his use of censorship in the educational system?
9/25 The Three Parts of the Soul
Reading assignment: 102-174
Quiz. Discussion question: Explain the three parts of the soul and the proper relationship between them.
10/2 Philosopher Kings
Reading assignment: 175-210
Quiz. Discussion question: Why does Plato believe that the philosopher must rule? Is he right?
10/9 Allegory of the Cave
Reading assignment: 211-263
Quiz. Discussion question: Explain the Allegory of the Cave.
10/16 Reading assignment: 265-320.
In-class writing assignment: (1) Explain the degeneration from the ideal society to tyranny. Or: (2) Why avoid injustice?
II. Philosophy and Literature: Justice and Alienation
10/23 Kafka: The Trial
Paper due at class meeting, 10/23 (750-1000 words): What is justice? You may choose to clearly present Plato's conception, showing how it might apply to a contemporary situation. Or you may take a further step of evaluating Plato's conception, showing how it is and is not useful today.
10/30 Assignment: Franz Kafka, "The Metamorphosis" (all)
In-class writing assignment: (1) Why a bug? (2) Describe, explain and evaluate the reactions of Gregor Samsa's family to his metamorphosis into a bug.
11/6 Assignment: Albert Camus, The Stranger, Part One (1-59)
11/13 Assignment: The Stranger, Part Two (63-123)
Paper due at class meeting (250-500 words): Imagine you are Mersault's attorney: How would you defend him?
11/20 Assignment: Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Part One
11/25:Scheduled as Thursday: CLASS MEETS
Assignment: Things Fall Apart, Part Two
12/4 Reading assignment: Plato, The Republic, 321-359.
Hand in introductory paragraph of final paper.
12/11 LAST CLASS
Paper due at class meeting (1000-1500 words). Comment on the following statement (you may agree or disagree, in whole or in part): No matter how limited or weak it seems, each of the three main characters in this unit of the course engages in a struggle for justice and, in some way, succeeds.
In-class assignment: Write an essay of 500 words. Choose 1) or 2):
1) Which work of fiction best shows the strengths of Plato's conception of Justice? 2) Which work of fiction best shows the limitations of Plato's conception of Justice?
Directed Study
The Directed Study will go deeper into the authors covered in Philosophy and Literature; students will read one additional book for each author except for Kafka. Students will write papers on each author.
The schedule is as follows:
October 15: Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito) 750-1000 words
Use two websites for this, and view the audio/visual portion of the second: http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/rguides/us/last_days_socrates.html
and, above all: http://socrates.clarke.edu/
1) Were the Athenians right or wrong to convict Socrates? In preparing your answer, pay close attention to the arguments that can be given for the other side.
November 13: Camus, The Plague (750-100 words)
Choose 1) or 2)
1) How (if at all) can evil be understood?
2) What is our responsibility in the face of evil?
December 11: Achebe, No Longer at Ease (750-100 words)
Choose 1) or 2)
1) Compare/contrast Obi's attitudes toward bribery when he first returns to Nigeria from England and at the end of the book.
2) Do you think No longer at Ease is a suitable title for this book? Why or why not?