Dear Students,
Thanks for your blog links. You’ll find a list of student blogs on the class website which, as a reminder, is located at:
Look toward the right side of the page for the list, click on a name, and you’ll be taken to that person’s blog. When we do interactive assignments later in the semester, you’ll need to be able to find these.
If you haven’t already read the Module 1 passages by Plato and about Aristotle, please read them before doing this week’s readings, as this week will build on last. We looked at Plato’s ideas about political systems, including democracy, which he felt had inherent weaknesses that would lead to tyranny. Plato’s student, Aristotle, expanded on his ideas and some of his critique is summarized in the second short passage. This week, as we continue to ease into the semester, we will have just three short readings and a film. If you have trouble finding the film or financial difficulty renting it, please let me know. Be sure to do the readings before watching the movie!
1) First, read this short article by Alexander Atkin. It provides a short and effective introduction to Plato’s ideas about civic leadership duty.
2) Then read this also-short article titled “The Bizarre Origins of the Word Idiot.”
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2016/11/07/the-bizarre-origins-of-the-word-idiot/
3) Finally, read this 2008 review of Richard Hofstadter’s Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, a text which is just as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1963. Has anti-intellectualism been on the increase or decline over the past two decades?
https://mtprof.msun.edu/Spr2008/weltzrev.html
4) Now you are ready to watch Mike Judge’s classic comedy, Idiocracy, which explores these same themes relating to the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of democracy. While watching the film, please keep this and last week’s readings in mind. Take notes, and then write a blog post reflecting on the readings and the film. In your observation of our democracy today, is there truth to some of the critiques presented by this week’s materials? What do you think Plato, Aristotle or Hofstadter would say if they were watching Idiocracy with you, or if they were commenting on the condition of American democracy today?
I look forward to reading your thoughts on these materials in your blogs this week. Stay safe from the heat!
Patti Andrews
No comments:
Post a Comment