Updated: July 24, 2002
Fall 2000
WEEK ONE ASSIGNMENT:
· Read Chapter One: Introducing Psychology's History
· Visit web site for lecture notes and Read the original version of Rene Descartes’, Discourse on the Methods of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the Sciences. Read Preface, Chapter one and two for this week.
· Complete your personal life map - You will complete a personal history from birth to today. Answer the question, what influenced you to be who you are today? Based on this information, trace your personal philosophical geneology. Each student will integrate key theoretical themes from Chapter One and their personal stories. Due Wednesday
Here is Rene Descartes on life histories or personal maps:
'After all, it is possible I may be mistaken; and it is but a little copper and glass, perhaps, that I take for gold and diamonds. I know how very liable we are to delusion in what relates to ourselves, and also how much the judgments of our friends are to be suspected when given in our favor. But I shall endeavor in this discourse to describe the paths I have followed, and to delineate my life as in a picture, in order that each one may also be able to judge of them for himself, and that in the general opinion entertained of them, as gathered from current report, I myself may have a new help towards instruction to be added to those I have been in the habit of employing. "
· Friday Assignment: Develop a one page description how this course fits into your current career goals? How will this course enhance it ? Give details. How could this course help you work with a middle school student?
Discussion Question Online Week One: Some starter questions! DUE FRIDAY.
What lessons from Descartes can you apply to this course?
Visit your personal life map and identify three influences in your life that can be foreshadowed in Descarte’s writing. Eg. Can you see how you and your ancestors supported or refuted the following educational philosophy quote from Chapter One of Descartes reading:
"From my childhood, I have been familiar with letters; and as I was given to believe that by their help a clear and certain knowledge of all that is useful in life might be acquired, I was ardently desirous of instruction. But as soon as I had finished the entire course of study, at the close of which it is customary to be admitted into the order of the learned, I completely changed my opinion. For I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors, that I was convinced I had advanced no farther in all my attempts at learning, than the discovery at every turn of my own ignorance."
What did you learn about yourself while doing this exercise? Identify the most valuable lesson you learned from this reading? Give details.
LECTURETTE:
HOW CAN WE DO ALL THIS WORK AND WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
Each week I will post a few thoughts with starter questions to get you thinking about the material for the week. The first week I want to help frame the weekly discussions that trace the historical material to your personal life map. Keep in mind (wherever it is), your goal is to (attempt) to trace how historical events influenced your current view of yourself. I suggest you read the Brennan text first and peruse some of the other philosophical online readings before doing the written assignments. I do not expect you remember all the details of Greek history. I do expect you to take one or two philosophical and historical concepts and critically analyze and develop a personal perspective. Your weekly assignments will be reinforced during classroom discussions where we will collectively analyze each other's views and compare them.
IF SOCRATES WAS A STUDENT IN THIS CLASS, WHERE WOULD HE SIT?
Western Civilization's foundation is steeped in Greek and Roman history and influence. Although it may seem impossible to trace your personal journey to the Greeks and Romans, it is possible to read and reflect on the readings in Chapter One of the text and see how your current views may originate in or be influenced by one of the five major categories of early Greek explanations of human activity.
For example, how might the humanistic orientation in the writings of Socrates who believed the "uniqueness of the individual that provides the key to understanding life" be seen in your current life situation? Socrates believed human progress would cease if we did not have individual principles and values. As a Norwich student, can you identify individual principles and values that define who you are? What are some of these values and principles and could they be traced to Socrates? Brennan (p.23) states that Socrates "turned toward the individual, focusing at first on the psychological processes of sensation and perception." What do you think he was saying?
Throughout this course you will be asked to take the position of the various philosophers and try to connect to one or two concepts from your life. This process will get easier as the semester advances. Where do you think Socartes would sit in this class?
THINK ABOUT IT! ( these are teaser thoughts to begin the critical thinking process)
1. Identify the five major categories or orientations of early Greek explanations of human activity. Can you connect them to your life at Norwich?
2. How did the Crusades influence the intellectual progress of western civilization?
3. Brennan (p.5) says, "..it was the scholarship of Muslim and Jewish teachers in Islamic territories that had preserved the essential body of ancient Greek writings and extended their interpretations in philosophy, science, and medicine." What does this statement say about current mid-east culture and intellectual development?