REQUIRED TEXT:  The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces Vol. 2 (7 th edition), available at our library and hand outs on weekly basis. Yet, I would like to start with Greek Mythology and talk about your preferences first.

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM:Great Books is a grand tour of the major works of Western literature produced in the world and especially in the West. The readings for this course constitute part of the necessary cultural background of students of literature. Nevertheless, they represent the cultural heritage of us all and should be part of the educational program of university students irrespective of their majors. Being a survey course with a very large scope, Great Books will not involve for the most part reading texts in full. It is hoped that students will be encouraged by experiencing a sampling of the characteristic passages and sections to read the full works on their own (perhaps during holidays and in years to come).

This course involves reading and discussion of literary works of all genres. We will examine the historical and cultural context of their production, the literary movements and theories of which they are exemplary, the interconnections between their singularity and specificity as masterpieces of literary production. Though the scope of the course is large, the reading amount will be no more than 100 pages per class time. It is imperative that you do the reading every time and that you come prepared to discuss. Furthermore, you are encouraged to explore the literary and cultural context through research of your own (on the internet and in the library)—research that will come in handy when you have to prepare your presentations.

Class-work will consist of short introductory lectures and discussions in which you are expected to participate with questions and interpretations of your own. You will also have an opportunity to try your hand at lecturing and leading the discussion on one occasion each. This will be an exciting course and I hope we will make the best of it and be better informed about the roots and later developments of Western literary heritage.

            II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: It is expected that by the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.     To appreciate the wealth of the cultural production of Western Literature.

2.     To develop a better understanding of literature and literary movements in general.

3.     To read all genres with an enhanced critical awareness and deepened enjoyment.

4.     To recognize the interconnection and mutual influence in the development of cultural movements across national borders and time periods.

III.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

2 Exams (Mid-term, final)                   50%

1 Presentation (Research paper)      40%

Participation/Attendance                    10%

 

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

REQUIRED TEXT: Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan, 3 rd Ed, Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis , 2001.

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. COURSE OBJECTIVES: It is expected that by the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.     To introduce students to the fundamental concepts of political philosophy forming the basic tenets of law, politics, and ethics, necessary for good governance.

2.     To engage the students in class discussion, in an effort to explore the relevance of theoretical precepts to personal, societal, and world experience, and their application to every-day-life, as well as to the age of globalization.

3.    To enable the students to express themselves orally, in order to acquire the facility to communicate in public in matters pertaining to subjects demanding complex conceptual schemes and involving non-traditional thinking processes, analytical skills, and verbal abilities.

4.     In the interests of intellectual consistency, you will need to prepare for each lecture and be able to summarize, and comment on, previous ones. The sessions will consist of formal lecture and seminars. Socratic dialogue will be used in the classes in addition to debates on current issues.

            II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:           

Grading will be based on four components. Your first examination (20%) will be mainly knowledge-based, focusing on your ability to grasp basic facts and themes, while the final one (40%) will test your faculties of analysis and evaluation. You will also prepare and present a project (20%). This will entail researching a political theme or institution, considering it critically and forming you own conclusions. Class participation will be 20 % of the final grade.

The individual project will focus on the analysis of an political concept or institution. The students are responsible to find their own topics, and the instructor will guide them through the preparation phase. The project will be evaluated on the basis of a class presentation (up to 10 minutes) and a brief one page summary of the main points of the presentation.

III.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

•  Class Participation             10%

•  Mid- term examination        30%

•  Essay- Presentation           20%

•  Final examination                40%

Essay -Presentation: Select a topic from the materials covered in class and prepare a 3-5 page “essay” in which you are to present the issue examined, the approach used, the relevant analysis/ arguments employed in “ the readings”, and your conclusions – reasonably drawn and lucidly supported (factually and logically) by the sources at hand.

You will be required to make an oral presentation of your “essay” in class.

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

V. COURSE OUTLINE 

•  Introduction
Smith, B. Steven, “Political Science and Political Philosophy: An Uneasy Relation”, PS: Political Science and Politics , Vol. 33, No. 2 (June 2000), 189-191.
Available at the UNYT library at the reserve section

•  Plato- “The Republic” Book VIII- X. pp. 131-191 & pg 1-4
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

•  Plato- “ Apology”, pg. 5-17
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

4.) ARISTOTLE – “The Politics” Book II & III, pg. 192-194, & pg 312-336
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

5.) ARISTOTLE – “ The Politics” Book IV & VI, pg 336-356.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

REVIEW, MID - TERM EXAMINATION

6.) MACHIAVELLI – “The Prince,” 417- 418, & 422-466.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory, Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

7.) HOBBES– “Leviathan” pg 448-490, & 531- 571
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

8.) LOCKE – “Second treatise of Government” pg 622-689.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

9.) ROUSSEAU- “On the Social Contract” pg 715-716, & 771-830.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

*SUMBIT, IN WRITING, TOPIC OF ESSAY*

10.) Mill - “On liberty” pg 874-934.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

11.) Marx– “Communist Manifesto” pg 969-970, & 994 – 1013.
Classics of Moral and Political Theory , Ed. Michael L. Morgan,

12.) Presentation in class of the Essay
Review for final examination.

FINAL EXAMINATION

REQUIRED TEXT: The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Penguin Book of Norse Myths, Handouts

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM: “Myth, Symbol, and Fable” will explore these literary genres in various literary contexts such as: fables, poems, short stories, one play and epic. The course will provide clear definitions and theory for these literary genres and then will explore their manifestation in concrete literary works. We will see how these forms emerged, starting with their origins, and the way they have developed through the centuries. We will also consider modern forms of such ancient genres and how they operate in today's literature and world.

By the end of the course students should have formed a literary awareness for myth, symbol, and fable and be able to recognize as well as intelligently appreciate these figures in works of art.

Each class session will start with discussions of the text concerned and its author and it will end with an introductory lecture by the instructor concerning the next and author. All students will be expected to have studied texts at home and come prepared to class so that they may participate in the discussions of texts each week.

            II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: It is expected that by the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.      To understand and appreciate the literary elements of myth, symbol and fable

2.      To see the convergence and interconnection of these genres while recognizing their differences

3.      To develop the analytical and critical skills of the students

4.      To enhance the students' vocabulary of the English language

5.      To develop an aesthetic and artistic taste for literature in general

              III.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

Midterm Exam 30%

Final Exam 40%

Attendance/Participation 10%

Presentations 20%

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

 IV. DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Exams : The midterm exam will cover lectures and texts that have been discussed up to that point of semester. The final exam will cover the rest of the program but it is conceived as relatively more demanding than the midterm. Both exams will include questions that have been thoroughly discussed in class. Questions will be concerned with definitions, analysis and critical reflection of the texts at issue. A list of questions to be prepared for the exam will be provided one week ahead of each exam.

Attendance/Participation : Attendance is mandatory and absences may have consequences in your overall performance as students. Be on time and be prepared to speak. Participation in class discussions is important and valued, as you can notice from assessment criteria. This is a literature class and literature is concerned with language and expression. So speaking and discussing in class is a natural part of the process of teaching and studying literature.

V. COURSE OUTLINE 

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Fable

Week 3: Fable

Week 4: Images

Week 5: Symbol in short stories

Week 6: Symbol in poems

Week 7: Symbol in drama

Week 8: Midterm exam

Week 9: Myth

Week 10: Epic of Gilgamesh

Week 11: Epic of Gilgamesh

Week 12: Norse mythology

Week 13: Greek mythology

Week 14: Hebrew mythology

Week 15: Final exam

REQUIRED TEXT:  Ed. L. Miller, Questions that Matter: An Invitation to Philosophy. New York : McGraw Hill, 1993 (copies can be                                  found in the library). Further materials may be provided in class.

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM: This course will examine basic issues in philosophy through four primary sub-topics: philosophy of religion, epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics, and ethics. While many of the great minds of the Western philosophical tradition will be included, the course is organized around topics rather than individuals. This course will focus on the relevant issues within philosophy, and students will be expected to actively engage with and analyze texts on that level. Students are expected to develop the critical reading, comparative, and reasoning skills necessary to evaluate and critique such ideas in a rigorous and effective fashion. Performance in the class will ultimately be based less on memorization of presented texts and more on the student's ability to work with the texts in a philosophical fashion.

            II. DEBATES: April 3, May 22, and June 12 will include in-class debates around the statements included on the syllabus. The class will be split into 2 teams which will debate each other throughout the semester. In each debate, both teams will select a small number of representatives to present their initial cases; it is up to the teams to ensure that each team member has a chance to present during the semester (this is the large part of each student's debate grade). Following the initial presentations, teams will be given the opportunity to offer rebuttals.

            III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:           

Students will be expected to read the weekly assignments and produce related response papers, which should be a page or two, typed and double-spaced. Response papers will not be graded, but they are part of the participation grade and are necessary in order to pass the course. These are opportunities for you to engage with the texts: to criticize, analyze, support, and/or argue with the authors whose works we will be reading. These RPs will often serve as the basis of class discussion and students should therefore be prepared to share them in class. The most helpful RPs will often be those that raise questions that can be discussed in class. Often, truly great philosophy is marked less by comprehensive answers and more by piercing, insightful questions.
Late response papers will not be accepted, and they cannot be made up at the end of a semester. The point of a response paper is to prepare for the day's class and discussion, which means that turning in response papers late defeats the purpose of them.

IV.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

•  Participation; includes attendance & involvement in class discussion             15%

•  Response papers                                                                                             15%

•  Debates                                                                                                             10%

• Midterm Examination                                                                                           30%

•  Final Examination                                                                                               30%

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

V. COURSE OUTLINE 

Lecture 1: Intro – What is Philosophy?
Chap. 1-2

Metaphysics/Ontology

Lecture 2: The Idea of Form
Chap. 3

Lecture 3: Mind and/or Matter?
Chap. 4

Lecture 4: Materialism
Chap. 5

Epistemology/Theory of Knowledge

Lecture 5: Rationalism
Chap. 6

Lecture 6: Empiricism
Chap. 7

Lecture 7: Certainty and the Limits of Reason
Chap. 8Debate: “Human beings are rational creatures”

Lecture 8: Mid-term Exam  

SPRING BREAK

Ethics & Social Philosophy
Lecture 9: Can there be an Ethics?
Chap. 12

Lecture 10: Utilitarianism & Kantian Duty
Chap. 13 & 14

Lecture 11: Debate: “Moral values are completely relative.”

Philosophy of Religion
Lecture 12: The Existence of God?
Chap. 9

Lecture 13: Theodicy
Chap. 11

Lecture 14: Religious Experience
Chap. 10 Debate: “It is important that God's existence be rationally proven.”

Lecture 15: Final Exam