Great Books III

Course Objectives
  1. write critical essays which consistently: introduce, support, conclude; define key terms; answer the question; have a clear line of argument; and support a thesis with well-selected specifics.
  2. read not only for "comprehension" but for major themes and inter-relationships of ideas amongst all readings.
  3. push thinking beyond "comprehension" and "application" to "analysis" in which course concepts are neither under nor over interpreted.
  4. appreciate everyone's rights to the classics, but eschew the tendency toward elitism.
  5. appreciate the special qualities of maieutic seminar while recognizing its relationship to other concepts of curriculum and its implications for social class.
  6. participate in the "great conversation" about the classic issues: good/evil; freedom/responsibility; ends/means; justice; happiness; destiny; life/death; nature of god; being/becoming; reason/emotion; body/mind; etc. and enjoy the camaraderie of this worthy pursuit.
  7. actively engage in the questioning/answering process of the Socratic method.
  8. evidence an improved 'tolerance of ambiguity' and enjoy a 'polyfocal conspectus.'
  9. cultivate an "acquired taste": for the great books recognizing "even Homer nods," and the joy of recognition may surpass the joy of surprise.
  10. install a bullet proof, shock resistant, water proof, crap detector.