HUMA 024

Autumn 2012

HUMANITIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTS AND SCIENCES

Wednesdays, 3.256.05, E 404 Instructor: Dr. Nicholas S. Anderson Email: nick.anderson@humber.ca

REQUIRED TEXT
Cockerton, C., & Chaparian, M. (2010). e Human Project: Readings on the Individual, Society, and Culture (5th ed.). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

ASSESSMENT
Test 1 In-class group assignments (2 x 5% each) Test 2 Take-home essay Test 3 Make-up Tests 20% 10% 25% 20% 25% -26 September TBA 14 November 28 November 12 December TBA (Test Centre)

Test 1: is test covers all material from weeks 1 through 3. Expect a combination of multiple choice/ true-or-false, short answer, and essay-style questions. Test 2: is test covers all material from weeks 4 through 9. Expect a combination of multiple choice/ true-or-false, short answer, and essay-style questions. Test 3: is test covers all material from weeks 11 through 14. Expect a combination of multiple choice/ true-or-false, short answer, and essay-style questions. Research paper: For this assignment, you will be expected to apply the insights you have gained from the course material in an argumentative essay. Assessment will be based on your knowledge of course concepts as well as your ability to apply that knowledge in an informed, critical discussion. A detailed description of the assignment will be o ered no later than week 6. In-class assignments: Two assignments will be administered over the course of the term. ese will be short-answer-style written questions, and may be administered as individual or group activities. ese assignments will assess familiarity with the assigned reading material as well as critical engagement. In the case of a group activity, each member of the group will receive the same grade. ese assignments may be used to jump-start subsequent discussions. Make-up test: As stated in the Missed Test Policy on the course outline, each student may take a maximum of one replacement test at the end of term. Replacement tests are given only for missed tests, i.e., they cannot be taken to upgrade a poor mark.

HUMA 024 HUMANITIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTS AND SCIENCES

AUTUMN 2012

SCHEDULE OF LECTURE TOPICS AND READINGS Week 1 (5 September)

Thinking of myself: Introducing the course with Descartes
Welcome to the course!

Week 2 (12 September)

Subterranean selves: Nietzsche and Freud

OBrien, W. (2010). From biology to biography: A brief history of the self. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 20-37). Toronto: Pearson Canada. [Review introduction, sections on Descartes, Freud, and Nietzsche]

Week 3 (19 September)

Liberty in chains: Skinner, skin, and free will

OBrien, W. continued . . . [Review section on Skinner] Adams, T. (2010). e skin were in. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 58-62). Toronto: Pearson Canada. Chaparian, M. (2010). Am I free or determined? In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 63-70). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 4 (26 September): Test 1 (20%)

Machines and Minds
First Hour: Test 1. Good luck! Carr, N. (2010). What the internet is doing to our brains: Is Google making us stupid? In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 87-95). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 5 (3 October)
Difference and diversity
Gregg, A. (2010). Identity crisis. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 116-125). Toronto: Pearson Canada. Parekh, Bhikhu. (2010). Diversity versus solidarity e progressive dillema of 21st-century politics. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 135-137). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

HUMA 024 HUMANITIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTS AND SCIENCES

AUTUMN 2012

Week 6 (10 October)

War by other means: Government, property, Hobbes, Locke

Ritts, M. (2010). Politics in the life of the individual. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 145-157). Toronto: Pearson Canada. [Review pp. 145-152]

Week 7 (17 October)

Happiness for the greatest number: Marx and Mill

Ritts, M. (2010). Politics in the life of the individual. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 145-157). Toronto: Pearson Canada. [Review pp. 152-157]

Week 8 (24 October)

Forms of resistance: Malcolm X and Mahatma Gandhi

Ritts, M. (2010). Soul force versus physical force. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 158-161). Toronto: Pearson Canada. X, M. (2010). By any means necessary to bring about freedom. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 162-165). Toronto: Pearson Canada. Gandhi, M. K. Non-violent resistance. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 166-169). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 9 (31 October)

The banality of evil
Milgram, S. (2010). e perils of obedience. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 199-212). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 10 (7 November): Test 2 (25%)

Test 2. Good luck!

Week 11 (14 November)

Science and religion
Cauchi, M. (2010). Science and religion: A complicated history. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 278-293). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

HUMA 024 HUMANITIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTS AND SCIENCES

AUTUMN 2012

Week 12 (21 November)

Science, ethics, and the future of humanity

Dyson, F. (2010). Can science be ethical? In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 250-258). Toronto: Pearson Canada. Wilson, E. O. Is humanity suicidal? In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 259-267). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 13 (28 November): Essay due (25%)

What is art for?
Cockerton, C. (2010). Serious pleasure: e role of the arts. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 312-317). Toronto: Pearson Canada. Cockerton, C. (2010). Looking for beauty. In C. Cockerton & M. Chaparain (Eds.), e human project: Readings on the individual, society, and culture (pp. 318-323). Toronto: Pearson Canada.

Week 14 (5 December)
Narrative as social critique
DeLillo, D. (1994, December). Videotape. Harpers Magazine, 15-17.

Week 15 (12 December): Test 3 (25%)

Final test. Good luck!

ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES

Instructor Email Policy: Email is not intended to substitute for contact in person. It is only appropriate as a last resort and for brief transmission of crucial, time-sensitive information. Do not use email to replace communication during in class times or a scheduled visit with an appointment. Laptops must only display word processing or note-taking programs only! No cell phones, smartphones, mp3 players, etc. (i.e., turn them o during class time) Attendance. Attending lectures and tutorials is mandatory: the tests and assignments are based in part on lecture materials. Learn to take notes and to engage the lecture materials. Punctuality. Please arrive on time. Preparation. Acquire all the required materials for the course and bring these materials to class. Come to class prepared to participate in discussions and writing exercises related to the assigned readings. Respect. Listen to and respect each other and avoid ad hominem attacks. Due dates. Submit all assignments on or before the due date unless special arrangements have been made with me prior to the deadline (extensions will not be negotiated by email; speak to me in person before or a er class).

HUMA 024 HUMANITIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTS AND SCIENCES

AUTUMN 2012

Assignments. Word-process and double-space all assignments using APA standard formatting for essays and references. All assignments must be submitted in person in hard copy. Emailed or faxed assignments will not be accepted. Personal problems. All rules aside, please speak to me if you are experiencing any problems that will negatively impact your academic performance. For more information on policies, see the course outline posted on BlackBoard.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND NOTES ON ASSIGNMENTS

One of the main purposes/objectives/goals of a written assignment is for students to demonstrate knowledge of, and insight into, the course materials. Be sure to read the relevant course materials, and to make use of themassimilate them, analyze them, and integrate arguments and points from them into your written assignment. PROPER REFERENCING and CITATION: Any and every idea and all informationas well as any and every direct quotationborrowed from any author or website, or any other source, must be acknowledged. is is the ethical and scholarly standard. Use in-text citation (parentheses) in conjunction with a reference list or list of works cited, according to APA conventions. Any direct quotation or close paraphrase without proper citation, any use of anybody elses words (including anything from the Web) without giving proper credit, is considered academic misconduct. minimum penalty is a zero (0) for the assignment. For more detailed information, please see the Avoiding Plagiarism: A Quick Reference Guide, available on BlackBoard. e