Great Books III
Course Objectives
- 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.
- read not only for "comprehension" but for major themes and inter-relationships of ideas amongst all readings.
- push thinking beyond "comprehension" and "application" to "analysis" in which course concepts are neither under nor over interpreted.
- appreciate everyone's rights to the classics, but eschew the tendency toward elitism.
- appreciate the special qualities of maieutic seminar while recognizing its relationship to other concepts of curriculum and its implications for social class.
- 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.
- actively engage in the questioning/answering process of the Socratic method.
- evidence an improved 'tolerance of ambiguity' and enjoy a 'polyfocal conspectus.'
- cultivate an "acquired taste": for the great books recognizing "even Homer nods," and the joy of recognition may surpass the joy of surprise.
- install a bullet proof, shock resistant, water proof, crap detector.