Interdisciplinary Studies

Humanities (IH) 2710

Fall, 2004

Philosophy and Literature: Truth, Politics, and Propaganda

Instructor: Ronald Aronson (o: [313] 577-0828; fax: 577-8585; h: [248] 548-7370)

email: ac7159@wayne.edu

Course texts. Books: Plato, The Republic (Cornford translation); Orwell,1984; Achebe, Things Fall Apart. Films: Michael Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11; John Sayles, Silver City; Robert Greenwald, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism. Books are available at Marwil’s, Cass at Warren, [313] 832-3078. Silver City is being released on September 17 and is to be seen at a local theater prior to the class meeting of 11/11.

The class meets Thursday, 6:00-9:40 pm

Office Hours: I will be available before class at AAB (5700 Cass), room 2426. 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 and its discussion of truth. Then we will study novels and films which pose the question of truth, especially in relation to politics and propaganda.

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 TARDY OR ABSENT THREE OR MORE TIMES WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE COURSE AND GIVEN THE GRADE OF E OR X.

MISSED ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE MADE UP, INCLUDING VIEWING ANY MISSED VIDEOS.

EACH MISSED CLASS NOT MADE UP COUNTS AS 1/3 OF A GRADE. (FOR EXAMPLE, A FINAL GRADE OF B- WILL BE DROPPED TO A C+ IF ONE ASSIGNMENT IS MISSED.)

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. Assigned papers include:

(1) First-week paper and short papers on readings and films as assigned       (10%)

(2) Quizes and short papers on readings and films                                               (15%)

(3) 4-page paper on The Republic                                                                         (15%)

(4) 4-page paper on 1984                                                                                        (15%)

(5) 6-page final paper on the theme of truth and propaganda in the literary works and films                                                                                                                             (20%)

Note: Late papers will be accepted up to two weeks late but will be downgraded one full mark.

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: 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 THE CURRENT EDITIONS OF TRIMMER'S GUIDE TO MLA DOCUMENTATION OR THE MLA HANDBOOK. I ENCOURAGE ROUGH DRAFTS AND ONGOING DISCUSSION OF PAPERS BY E-MAIL.

SCHEDULE

I. Philosophy and Truth

9/9     Introduction and first assignment: Philosophy and Truth Today

          See www.swiftvets.com/ and www.texansfortruth.com

In-class writing assignment: Can we find out the truth?

9/16   Plato’s Republic

           Reading assignment: Plato, 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?

9/23   An Ideal Society

           Reading assignment: 41-102

In-class quiz and writing assignment:

(1) Why does Plato create an ideal society?

(2) Do you agree with his use of censorship in the educational system?

9/30   The Three Parts of the Soul

           Reading assignment: 102-174

In-class quiz. Discussion question: Explain the three parts of the soul and the proper relationship between them.

10/7   Philosopher Kings

           Reading assignment: 175-210

In-class quiz. Discussion question: Why does Plato believe that the philosopher must rule? Is he right?

10/14 Allegory of the Cave

           Reading assignment: 211-263

In-class quiz. Discussion question: Explain the Allegory of the Cave.

10/21 Decline of the Ideal Society and the Healthy Soul

           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, the Media, and Literature: Truth and Propaganda

10/28 Propaganda and the War in Iraq

Paper on Plato due at class meeting, (750-1000 words): topic to be announced

           Film, Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11

11/4   Plato on Truth Reevaluated by Mortimer Adler

           Reading assignment to be given out in class: Mortimer Adler on truth

11/11 Living with Propaganda

           Reading Assignment: 1984, Part I

In-class paper or quiz on Silver City

11/18 Living with Propaganda

           Reading Assignment 1984, Part II

           Reading to be handed out in class on 11/11: Franklin Luntz on truth

11/23 Living with Propaganda

           Reading Assignment 1984, Part III

Paper due at class meeting, (750-1000 words): topic to be announced

           Film: Greenwald, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism

12/2   Literature and Truth

           Reading Assignment: Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Part I

12/9   Literature and Truth

           Reading Assignment: Things Fall Apart, Part II

12/16LAST CLASS

Paper due at class meeting, 6 typed pages (1500 words). Topic to be announced.

In-class assignment: Write an essay of 500 words.