At the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Understand the value of philosophical theories (historical, modern, and contemporary) in thinking through topics of society and culture.
2. Understand and discuss the central topics of this course.
3. Demonstrate an ability to identify and articulate, both orally and in writing, the primary philosophical themes and issues found in the theories discussed.
4. Demonstrate an ability to evaluate philosophical arguments critically, both orally and in writing.
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In this course, we begin by gaining traction on the concept of culture by using excerpts from Plato’s Republic, to think through the role of politics and education in shaping a society and its culture. We then transition to modern and contemporary philosophical accounts which thematize notions of desire, power, economics and gender in shaping a culture. In particular, we will engage thinkers such as Nietzsche, Foucault, Marx and Butler to examine the forces that drive and sustain culture. We will conclude the course discussing a sense of loss felt in contemporary life, evoked by various crises such as anthropogenic climate change– marking a loss that contests the binary opposition between culture and nature.
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Presentation (30%)
Portfolio (70%)
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