ICC course themes: Power & Justice; World of Systems. Perspectives: Humanities and Social Sciences
Seats open in the 5:25pm section (and a few in the 4pm section)
Questions? Contact Professor Kelly Dietz, kdietz@ithaca.edu
POLT 14200-01,02 IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES
(ICC) Humanities & Social Sciences; Power and Justice & World of Systems
INSTRUCTOR: Kelly Dietz, Muller 323, Ext. 4-3581
PREREQUISITES: none
COURSE DESCRIPTION: What makes for a good society? How do you think we might achieve it, and why? Where do your ideas and beliefs about the world come from? How do you know your beliefs are correct, and why might it be useful to entertain doubt? How do your individual beliefs relate to broader systems of thought we call ideologies? This course requires self-reflection on these questions as we explore ideological perspectives on political, social and economic life. Through readings, film, art, music and your own observations, the course focuses on key political ideas and the ideological debates over their meaning and practice. We examine concepts such as liberty, equality, democracy, human nature, security, order, authority, community and nation. We consider how these and other political ideas developed historically, why certain ideas endure, and why they remain important to understanding politics today. In doing so we also pay close attention to how political ideas reflect, reinforce, and challenge relations of power, especially in terms of class, race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. The course encourages critical reflection on where your views about the world come from, and which ideas you take for granted. Encounters with views and theories different from our own help bring to light our unconscious assumptions and also what is distinctive about our political views. Ideological perspectives the course explores include liberalism and conservatism (and their “neo” variants), socialism and fascism.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: discussion and occasional short lecture
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: active participation, weekly writing about course materials, midterm and final essays
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20201209012756812