Western Culture I ‑ Honors
“Origins of Western Culture and Thought”
Spring 2003
Dr. Phillip McArthur
Course Description
In this course we will explore the historical,
cultural and philosophical underpinnings of the Western tradition. We will begin in Mesopotamia, work our way
through the Greco‑Roman world, and conclude with Medieval Europe (nearly
forty‑five hundred years). We will
not only be concerned with becoming familiar with the Western heritage, but
develop approaches to critically think about the origins of Western culture and
thought, which for better or worse, have led to profound repercussions on many
of the world’s cultures.
Required Texts
Norton Anthology World
Masterpieces: volume I (NA)
Pirsig, Robert M. Zen
and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
This is an honors class wherein greater
responsibility is placed on you to read, participate in class discussions and
think critically. I believe that our
best learning comes when we engage in meaningful dialogue with each other. You are encouraged to ask questions and voice
your ideas and experiences. Through
active participation in class you may find that you will not only better
understand the subject matter, but enjoy developing critical ways to think
about it.
Read the assignments and come to class prepared to
discuss what you have read. Coming to
class prepared provides the ground whereupon we can all discuss important
topics together. I also hope you find
that you can learn much from the questions and comments of your fellow
classmates. Through your preparation and
participation I hope you have what I call an “ah‑ha” experience, wherein
ideas, concepts, and questions come clear to you, and where you make
connections and start to see the “bigger” picture.
Course Requirements
1. Six Interpretive Essays 2‑3 pages
each (**must be typed and double spaced) 60%
In these essays you will present a pithy, but
nonetheless insightful interpretation and/or explanation of a piece of
literature, philosophical reading, or cultural‑historical problem. These are not just opinion papers, but will
present your critical thinking in a very well written and edited essay. I will provide in advance a list of possible
essay topics from which you will select one for each assignment.
2. Participation
40%
In order to have a successful honors course your
attendance and participation is essential.
You must be willing to contribute to all class discussions. In order to do so you must also stay up on
the readings. I will note who is
prepared and call on you individually to respond to a question, articulate a
point, or offer an alternative.
HOLIDAY:
Monday, 26 May
UNIT I - Ancient--Greek Epic and Literature
NA ‑ The
Epic of Gilgamesh (prologue, parts 1, 3‑7)
BB ‑ “The
Dispute of a Man with His Soul”
BB ‑ “The
Negative Confession” from Book of the Dead
BB ‑ “The Great Hymn to the Aten”
NA ‑ Homer:
The Iliad (books I, VI, XVIII,
XXII, XXIV)
NA ‑ Homer:
The Odyssey (books I [through line 119] IX‑XII, XXIII
NA ‑ Sappho
(three poems, 540‑542)
NA ‑ Sophocles:
Oedipus the King
NA ‑ Euripides:
Medea
NA ‑ Aristophanes:
Lysistrata
NA ‑ Plato:
The Apology of Socrates
BB ‑ Plato: selections from The Republic: “The
Allegory of the Cave”; “The Relation of Art to
Truth”;
“The Philosopher’s Fitness to Rule”; “The Equality of Women”
BB ‑ Aristotle: “Induction” from Analytica Posterioria; “Activity According to Reason as the
Highest
Good for Man” from Nicomachean Ethics
NA ‑ Aristotle: Selections from Poetics
BB ‑ Epicurus:
“The Preconditions of Happiness” & “The Good Life” from Letter to
Menoeceus
NA ‑ Virgil:
The Aeneid (books I, II, IV, VIII, XII)
BB ‑ Cicero:
“The Dream of Scipio” from On the Republic
NA ‑ Ovid:
Metamorphoses (book I)
NA - Koran
(sura(s) 1,5,12)
NA ‑ Beowulf
(pages 1062-1086)
NA ‑ Song
of Roland (verses: 1‑23, 28‑46, 79‑93, 127‑176)
NA ‑ Dante:
“The Inferno” (canto(s): I‑VI, XII‑XVII) from The Divine Comedy
NA ‑ Chaucer:
The Canterbury Tales (“General Prologue” and “The Pardoner’s Tale”)
UNIT V ‑ Medieval Philosophy
NA ‑ St.
Augustine: Confessions (all books
in anthology)
BB ‑ St. Augustine: Selections from The City
of God
BB ‑ Boethius:
selection from The Consolation of Philosophy
BB ‑ St.
Thomas Aquinas: from Summa Theologica:
“Whether God Exists?”;
“Whether Those
Things
That are of Faith Can Be an object of Science”
BB ‑ Roger
Bacon: selection from The Affinity of Philosophy with Theology
Pirsig: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance (Parts I, II, III, IV)