HON
201-7
Fall,
2009
Dr.
Greenway
Defining “Progress”
Syllabus
Texts
Brecht, Bertolt. Galileo.
Grove Press, 1994. 0802130593
Florman, Samuel. The Existential
Pleasures of Engineering 2nd ed.
St. Martin's:
Wells, H.G .The Time Machine. Signet 0451528557; Online at
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/35
Appleman, Philip.
Bury, J.B. The Idea of Progress. Cosimo
Classics, 2008. 1605201383 Opt: Online at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4557
Kierkegaard, Søren. Fear and Trembling. Penguin, 1986. 0140444491. Online at
http://www.ccel.org/k/kierkegaard/selections/trembling.htm
Kandinsky, Wassily. Concerning the
Spiritual in Art.
Huxley, T. H. Evolution
and Ethics. On line at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2940
Course Outline:
Topics for Contemplation
Progress, Part 1: Faith in Science and Technology (Sept 1 – 17)
A. Text: Brecht, Galileo
The nature and limits of scientific knowledge
Faith in mathematics
The dynamics of a scientific theory
B. Text: Florman, The Existential
Pleasures of Engineering
The engineer as hero
The “engineering mentality”
Technology and tragedy
Progress, Part 2: Faith and Spirituality (Sept 22- Oct 13)
Text: Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
Spiritual progress?
Do spiritual truths have access to reason?
What do you mean, “Literally true”?
Hegel and dialectic
Kierkegaard: not what you think, but how you live. Three choices:
Either/Or
Abraham: Teleological Suspension of the Ethical
Faith in ethics vs. faith in God
Progress, Part 3: Biology and Social Evolution (Oct 15 – Dec 3)
A. Text:
Elements of theory: adaptation and natural selection
Implications: William Paley and design
B. Social Evolution and Progress
Text: Huxley, Evolution and
Ethics
Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith
Herbert Spencer and Social Darwinism
Laissez-faire Capitalism
C. The Future
Text: Wells, The Time Machine
Progress vs. Entropy
Goals:
Thinking: Consider an important idea
actively, synthesize reading and discussion.
Writing: Write concisely,
professionally, according to defined criteria
Speaking: Present short
topics intelligibly and with confidence.
Enjoyment,
edification, fascination: Optional, but desirable.
Policies:
-- Grading
1. Attendance/ Participation (40%): I do not take
attendance, nor do I give pop quizzes. I see them as an insult to you and a
waste of my time. Do not mistake this, however: I expect you in class and prepared
to engage ideas actively. In this context, I hope to show you how to present
specific topics concisely and confidently. If you elect not to attend class or
read the material, you may have good reasons for doing so, but do not hold me
responsible at the end of the semester for the choices you have made: grow up.
I evaluate not you as a person, but your contribution to the class.
2. Writing (60%):
I have divided the semester into three parts, with the “
-- Civility
1. Please squelch your cell-phones, iPods, phasers,
twitterers and other communications gizmos during class. None of us is that
important.
2. I have no problems with your bringing non-noisy food or
drink to class, but be prepared to share.
3. You will, I trust, find some of the topics and opinions
we touch on preposterous or even offensive. Criticize the idea, after you
understand it, but refrain from attacking the person.
I hope you will enjoy exploring this idea as much as I will.
For class members, look here
For due dates, print out the Calendar.