Dr. W. Turner
he
Age of Reason and Enlightenment
(HIST 4361/6361)
updated 2004
Introduction:
The Enlightenment was a self-made period of history. The "great"
thinkers of this period thought of themselves within a historical context.
In fact, they understood themselves to be the culmination of all of the periods
of history to that point. I have chosen as our themes: science and religion.
It is my belief that the interaction between these two themes has had much
to do with building the mental constructs and societal prejudices and norms
that order western civilization today.
Books:
Porter, The Enlightenment
Beccaria, On Crimes & Punishments
Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Voltaire, Candide
Research Paper & Oral Report:
Your research project may be on any topic within the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, preferably within the themes of the course. In week 3 I will pass
around a sheet on which you can provide your topic. The oral report should be
accompanied by a bibliography in the style outlined in Kate Turabian's A Manual
for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Chicago: 1996. Each of
you will give an oral presentation of the findings of your research. You may
use PowerPoint, slides, overheads, costumes, music, posters, handouts, anything
to illuminate your topic. You will be graded on organization and content and
may give a simple talk on your subject.
Schedule:
The first 11 weeks of the course will be a series of lectures on the Renaissance
and the Reformation interspersed with discussions of the readings. The last
4-5 weeks will be your presentations.
January
15 Lecture: "Unrest in the 16th c. and the Peace of Augsburg"
Over the next 2 weeks read: Porter, The Enlightenment
17 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Simon Healy
22 Lecture: "War and Peace in the Holy Roman Empire"
24 Lecture: "A change in the view of the universe"
29 Discussion: Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (Selections Provided
- Please come prepared)
31 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Mark Fissel
Reaction Paper due on Descartes
February
5 Lecture: "Skeptical thinking"
7 Research day (no class)
12 Lecture: "An Encyclopedic view of the world"
14 Discussion: Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
19 Midterm #1
21 Lecture: "L'etat, c'est moi"
Reaction Paper due on Hume.
26 Lecture: "Mercantilism & women"
28 Discussion: Voltaire, Candide
March
5 Lecture: "The Politics of the Enlightenment"
7 Lecture: "A road-map for revolution"
Reaction Paper due on Voltaire.
12 Discussion: Beccaria, On Crimes & Punishments
14 Lecture: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!"
19 Lecture: "The meaning of equality"
Reaction Paper due on Beccaria
21 Midterm #2
26 Project Presentations
28 Project Presentations
April
2 Project Presentations
4 Project Presentations
Spring Break!!!
16 Project Presentations
18 Project Presentations
23 Project Presentations
25 Final Exam Review
Final Exam: Thursday May 2nd, 3:30-5:30
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