SYLLABUS IGE 121 THE ANCIENT WORLD
Rationalism, Revelation and Enlightenment
Instructor: Nancy Ware Instructor: Dorothy Wills
Office 94-324 Office: 5-147
Phone extension 3071 Phone Extension: 3582
E mail nware@csupomona.edu E mail: ddwills@csupomona.edu
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GOALS: To extend our understanding of links between ancient cultures
and our own.
To extend our understanding of our multicultural heritage.
To increase our understanding and articulation of personal and
cultural
values.
To explore unfamiliar texts with confidence, and curiosity.
To expand our critical thinking in writing and in spoken discourse.
To become active citizens in our learning community.
To relate what we learn in class to our own lives.
SOME QUESTIONS AND THEMES
What advantages are gained by understanding an historical perspective?
What kinds of questions do historians ask? How do various modern
world views have their roots in the ancient world: How do human
beings decide what is true? How do we decide what is good? What
factors must we consider when comparing texts from different cultures,
different historical contexts? What are the relationships between
sacred and secular texts? Does the identification of a text as
sacred affect the way we read it? If so, how? What ways of knowing
are associated with revelation? What influence has the Hebraic
prophetic tradition had on modern times? What is social justice?
What is rationalism? What kinds of social structures and definitions
of citizenship arose in ancient 5th century B.C. Athens? What
roles did women have in classical Athens? What is Enlightenment
in the Eastern religious tradition? What are the roots of various
modern religions? How does a tragic world view both free and limit
the individual? What values were held by archaic warrior cultures?
Can myths and heroic narratives from ancient cultures offer us,
as Joseph Campbell suggests, guides to living our own lives today?
If so, how? What is the relationship of conscience and law? Are
there unjust laws? Why do good people suffer?
TEXTS
Popol Vuh, Tedlock, transl.,(Simon and Schuster) , Gassire's Lute,
Jablow, trans (Waveland) , IGE 121 ANTHOLOGY ( Burgess) , Greek
Tragedy, vol.1, Greene and Lattimore,eds (Chicago University Press)
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
You will keep a portfolio of written work which will contain a
number of different kinds of writings. One will be a ten-week
collection of informal writings including reading responses, speculation
on readings and discussions, and free writes. In addition, there
will be two formal essays and a group
project with a written component. Type your portfolio entries,
ask and answer your own questions based on the readings, themes,
and discussions. Formal essays will be 4-5 pages developing a
thesis or claim you want to press on your readers. You are expected
to attend two arts events and include written responses to them
in your portfolio. Be an active and supportive listener and contribute
to class discussion. Challenge yourself to understand the texts
and what others say in class.
Distribution of points for evaluation:
Portfolio 20%
Essays 40%
Group Project 20%
Attendance and Participation in Discussion 20%
CALENDAR
Week l Orientation to the themes and purposes of IGE 121
Jan.2 Introduction, Issues of Identity What is the nature of Rationalism?What
are its origins?
What is your understanding of revelation? Of enlightenment?
Jan. 8 Reading Assignment: Hextor in Burgess Anthology. How does
Hextor's account give
insight into the rational study of the past? How does this reflect
on Rationalism?
Revelation
Jan.10 Reading Assignment: Popol Vuh
Jan. 15 Continue Popol Vuh view video other creation stories
Jan. 17
Reading Assignment: Amos from Burgess Anthology
Enlightenment
Jan.22 Reading Assignment: Buddhism from Burgess What do various
traditions say about achieving enlightenment? How is it a response
to suffering?
Jan. 24 Reading Assignment: Confucius and Taoism.
Jan. 29 Zahak (Anthology)
Slides on Religion in West Africa
Jan 31 Paper # 1 due
Tragic World View
Feb. 5 Reading Assignment: Homer's Illiad, Lodge's War Music,
Kitto on Homer
Feb. 7 Reading Assignment: Gassiere's Lute
Feb. 12 Antigone
Feb. 14 Marilyn Arthur from Burgess and Kitto on Polis from Burgess
Wisdom Literature/ The Problem of Human Suffering
Feb. 19 Reading Assignment: Job in Burgess
Feb.21 Return to Revelation Is the concept of revelation consistent
across cultures or
does it vary? Reading assignment: The Gospel of Matthew from Burgess
What are the ways in which different modes of interpretation can
illuminate the parables?
Paper #2 due
Feb.26
Reading Assignment: MLK's Letter From Burmingham Jail How does
King's text reflect the readings and discussion of themes which
we have had this quarter from the ancient world? Feb. 28 Project:
Draw a nonverbal representation of your world view.
Group Presentation
Week 10 Group Presentations, Synthesis, and Exit Interviews Portfolios
due.
Exam Exit Interview