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W10 Collective Responsibility. People commonly claim that various
groups are collectively responsible for what has happened and the groups
claimed to be responsible are often vast in number. But what exactly does
it mean to say, for example, that all Americans are collectively responsible
for the problem of homelessness in the United States? And how does collective
responsibility differ from the responsibility attributed to individuals?
This course examines what philosophers have said about collective responsibility
and collective guilt, while at the same time attempting to make sense of
what ordinary people say about responsibility when it is ascribed to groups
of moral agents. Attention is given to theological doctrines such as the
doctrine of original sin and relevant biblical accounts such as the story
of Achan. Student evaluation is based on a research paper. A prior course
in philosophy is helpful but not required. G. Mellema.
W11 Women’s Bodies in Contemporary Culture. This course begins with an overview of how the Western philosophical tradition has perceived human bodies, starting with Plato and then concentrating on attitudes towards women’s bodies in pre-modern times. This overview sets the philosophical stage for examining and evaluating contemporary cultural attitudes towards women’s bodies. The main goals of the course are to look carefully and critically at current perceptions of the ideal female body, to recognize how and why this ideal fluctuates over time, and to address the question, “How are we, as Christians, called to respond to these perceptions of women’s bodies?” Discussions respond to a wide variety of sources including essays by Anne La Mott, television shows, recent movies, advertisements, and Glamour magazine. Readings include Susan Bordo’s Unbearable Weight, which provides philosophical perspectives on body image, being a mother, exercise, and health. Students are evaluated on a journal, presentation, and final project. C. Van Dyke. W12 Facing East: Learning from the Orthodox Tradition. What can Christians—Reformed or otherwise—learn from the theology and practices of the Eastern Orthodox tradition? This is the guiding question of Facing East. In this class, students explore various facets of the Orthodox tradition. In particular students explore how the Orthodox understand the nature of the atonement, salvation, the role of tradition, the spiritual disciplines, and the divine liturgy. The class also investigates the role of iconography in Orthodox worship and the character of Orthodox liturgical music. Field trips to local churches to investigate iconography and the shape of Orthodox worship are also included. Evaluation is based on readings and a graded journal. T. Cuneo. W13 Peaceable Kingdom: Transforming our Relationships with Animals. Though stewardship of the animal kingdom is one of the primary responsibilities accorded to human beings in the Christian creation narrative, the question of how best to respect and to honor the creatures under our care is on that Christians too often neglect to ask. This omission is especially tragic, given the overwhelming evidence of fallenness in the social and commercial practices that presently govern our relationships to animals. The purpose of this course is two-fold: first, to gain insight into the problem through a survey of the philosophical, ethical, environmental, and socio-economic issues surrounding the treatment of animals and the allocation of natural and human resources by contemporary agribusiness; and second, to take the initial steps toward becoming agents of transformation by employing an array of concrete approaches to addressing these problems. In addition to reading current literature and viewing relevant documentary media, students visit a local community farming co-op, participate in workshops with representatives from activist organizations, and enjoy an advance screening of a major new documentary on factory farming by a New York advocacy group ( Compassionate Consumers). Evaluation is based on journal assignments and workshop participation. M. Halteman. CANCELED W15 Christianity, Citizenship, and Politics. In this course, students consider the question, “How should Christian citizens participate in a liberal democratic society?” The question has taken on added significance in the past ten or fifteen years for philosophers, political theorists, figures in the media, elected officials, political activists, and especially for clergy and congregations. Much hand-wringing has concerned either a fear (of many on the Left) about the rise of the Radical Religious Right or the charge (offered by many on the Right) of a bias against religion in “the Public Square.” In fact, a variety of positions have emerged both within the Christian tradition and otherwise: some have advocated withdrawal, others have supported political engagement but on secular terms, and still others have viewed politics as a legitimate means of pursuing Christian aims (sometimes while accepting certain constraints). This course explores the theoretical and historical backdrop of the question and will also examine a number of issues which seem to have drawn the most attention from Christians in recent times. Students will read texts dealing with theological and philosophical understandings of political power and institutions and look at historical examples of Christian political involvement. The course is structured as a seminar consisting, for the most part, of discussion among students and the instructor; active participation is therefore required. Students also will make brief presentations, write short journal entries, and complete a final paper. C. Callaway. W16 Philosophy through Science Fiction.
The Matrix was one of the most overtly symbolic and philosophical science
fiction films to reach a mass audience. But science fiction film and literature
have proposed thought experiments that function as mirrors through which
we can reflect on ourselves and the world since the beginnings of the
genre in Frankenstein. In this course we will examine classic problems
of analytic philosophy primarily through science fiction literature by
reading short stories from the mid-20th century to today. These problems
include: moral relativism, skepticism, the existence of God, time and
time travel, free will, artificial intelligence and philosophy of mind,
bioethics and others. We will use stories from old masters like Philip
K. Dick and Robert Heinlein, and from newer stars like Greg Egan and Mike
Resnick. We will also see films, including Blade Runner and Total Recall,
and watch several episodes from various series within the Star Trek family.
The science fiction films and readings will be accompanied by a thought-provoking
philosophy reading, and by an introduction to the topic written by the
instructor. R. Nichols. IDIS W25 Death and the Meaning of Life. K. Clark. IDIS W63 Independent Study at L’Abri Fellowship, Switzerland. L. Hardy. |
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