Challenging Ideas of the Twentieth Century

This course is premised on the notion that ideas matter. How we think, what we believe to be possible and the choices we make are predicated on ideas, both conscious and unconscious. In this course we will examine some of the transformative ideas that have emerged in the 20^thcentury and discuss their implications for the future.

Since ideas emerge and permeate in all sorts of places, this class will not be bounded by traditional disciplinary lines. Casting a wide net, we will examine how energy-laden ideas appear, affect and are challenged in the arts, humanities, natural and social sciences, looking for patterns as well as peculiarities. We will trace the historical roots of these ideas and follow their probable trajectory/influence into the future.

Near the end of the tumultuous nineteenth century, Edward Bellamy, an idealistic journalist, penned what some have called "the most influential work of fiction ever written by an American." He dreamed of the year 2000 when violent class conflict, political corruption, ruthless territorial expansion, and economic depressions would all be things of the past. Our culminating activity will be to write our own "Looking Backward" from the year 2100.

Assignments

50% Write a 5 (or so) page essay based on the readings and your own response to each of the five main ideas.

30% Research your own significant idea of the 20^th century, write a 10-15 page paper and present your findings to the class. Includes chronology of twentieth century.

20% Write your own contemporary edition of "Looking Backward"

Syllabus

Aug 26 Introduction Aug 30- Sept 13

Idea # 1 Truth/reality/perception/ is relative

Stephen Hawking, "Space and Time"

"The Uncertainty Principle"

"The Unification of Physics"

Todd Gitlin, "Post-modernism Defined, At Last!"

Lonnie Kliever, "Moral Education in a Pluralistic World"

James Banks, "Cultural Literacy"

Susan Sontag, "Against Interpretation"

Sept 16-Oct 4

Idea #2 Human rights are universal for all races, sexes, classes and sexual orientations.

Robert Fox, "Becoming Post-White"

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Dubois, "Of the Sons of Master and Man"

Black Panther Party Platform

James Forman, "Black Manifesto"

Kwame Appiah, "In My Father's House"

Betty Friedan, "The Feminine Mystique"

Adrian Rich, "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence"

Judith Butler, "Gender Trouble"

bell hooks, "Reflections on Race and Sex"

NOW's Statement of Purpose, 1966 and other selections

Oct 7-Oct 25

Idea# 3 The universe is chaotic, not orderly.

"Images of Chaos"

Thomas Kuhn, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions"

Gloria Billings, "Unity and Diversity"

David Hollinger, "Beyond Multiculturalism to Postethnic America

Martha Ackelsberg, "Identity Politics, political identities"

Micaela di Leonardo, "Patterns of Culture Wars"

Oct 28-Nov 12

Idea #4 Whoever has the most money wins.

Beth Rubin, "Class Struggle: American Style"

Robert McChesney, "Rich Media: Poor Democracy"

John Sweeny, "America Needs a Raise"

Hannah, Arendt, "Lying Politics"and other selections

Nov 15- Dec 6

Idea #5 Violence: Instrumental, inevitable or impossible?

Walter Wink, "Jesus' Third Way: Nonviolent Engagement"

"On Not Becoming What we Hate"

"Beyond Just War and Pacifism"

Howard Zinn, "Violence and Human Nature"

Helen Prejean, "Dead Man Walking" and other selections

Dec 9 Looking Backward/Looking Forward