RPH 201 WESTERN INTELLECTUAL TRADITION

RPH 201 WESTERN INTELLECTUAL TRADITION: SYLLABUS

General Information:
Professor: Dr. Martha Beck
Office: Alphin 214
Phone: 793-1774 (w); 793-8500 (h)
P.O. Box 2317, Alphin Building
Office hours: MWF 5:00-5:30; TR 4:00-5:30

Required Texts:
The Stoic Philosophy of Seneca
On Free Choice of the Will, Augustine
Booklet of Readings purchased from Dr. Beck

Course Objectives:

1. To improve our understanding of contemporary culture in the United States by understanding the ancient origins of Western culture.

2. To examine the Judeo-Christian and the Greco-Roman roots of Western society.

3. To understand the interrelation between all aspects of culture: science, economics, politics, art, music, literature, education, family life, religion, and philosophy.

4. To enable students to become more reflective and deliberate about how they want to live, including how they would like to incorporate the beliefs and behaviors of ancient Westerners into their own ways of thinking and acting.

5. By the end of the term, students should understand why and how the "ancient" Western world view gradually evolved into the "modern" Western worldview.

Attendance

Attendance is required and will be taken at the beginning of each hour. If you have a good reason to be absent, leave a note, email, or voice mail. If I am not notified by 6:00 p.m. on the day you were absent, you will have an unexcused absence. Unexcused absences will have the following effect on your grade:

a) Up to 3 unexcused absences: no change in grade;
b) 3-6 unexcused absences: final grade lowered by 1/3
c) 6-8 unexcused absences: final grade lowered by 2/3
d) 9-10 unexcused absences: final grade lowered by one full grade;
e) More than 10 unexcused absences: final grade will be an "F".

Writing Assignments and Class Participation

There will be a number of written assignments. Your participation in class will also be noted and included in this part of the grade. Counts for 20% of final grade.

Three, 1000 word minimum papers (due dates on schedule).

Each paper counts for 20% of your final grade. See Paper Grade Worksheet. If we do not have time to go over this in class, make sure you have read it carefully and ask me questions if you are confused.

Final Paper of at least 1500 words

The theme of the paper will be, "What aspects of Ancient Western thought do I want to incorporate into my way of thinking and living?" This is not your thesis statement, but your thesis must address this question in some way. This will count for 20% of your grade. Due date is on schedule. Topics on-line

Honor Code Policy

Please read the section on the honor code in your student handbook carefully. The discussion of plagiarism is very important. Feel free to discuss ideas with other members of the class, or anyone. When you sit down to write your paper, however, make sure your thesis statement, the quotes you use to support it, and the organizational structure of the paper are all your own work. Do not read your final draft to anyone else in the class.

Catalog Information

Last day to drop a course and receive a "W" grade: Sept. 24
Mid-term grades due: Oct. 9

RPH 201: WIT: Schedule of Readings

Aug. 28: Introduction, syllabus, paradigms, Common Core

Aug. 30: Plato: Introduction: Greek civilization: Why do we study Greece? and

Outline on Ancient Greece

Sept. 2: Euthyphro: text and Questions: What is Piety?

Optional readings: Commentary on the dialogue and Narrative by Euthyphro

Sept. 4: Apology: text and Socrates' narrative

Sept. 6: Crito: text and Summary of arguments

Sept. 9: Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Book I and Book II excerpts:

Happiness and virtue defined