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POLS 401 PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES TO MODERNITY
Full Course Title:
Philosophical Approaches to Modernity
Course Code:
POLS 401
Course Level/BiH cycle:
I cycle, 4th year
ECTS credit value:
6
Student work-load:
(Table with hours for: Lectures; Exercise; Other; Individual learning)
For the whole semester:
Tutorial /
Practical
Lectures
training
42
e.g.
Project
e.g.
Internship
Individual
learning
TOTAL
-
-
108
150
-
Length:
One semester, three contact hours per week, additional office hours as specified in the
syllabus
Faculty/School/Department:
FASS, Social and Political Sciences
Course leader:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Çaksu
Contact details:
Office:
B F2.25
e-mail:
alicaksu@ius.edu.ba
Office hours:
Tuesday
14:00–16:00
Phone:
033 957 320
Thursday
14:00– 16:00
Site:
Lectures: IUS campus building A – F2.13
Host Study Program:
Social and Political Sciences
Program Elective for Social and Political Science students
Course status:
Pre-requisites:
None
Access restrictions:
I cycle students only
Assessment:
Participation, mid-terms exam, quizzes and final paper
Date validated:
October 2014
The aims of this course are to:
1. To provide an introduction to the history of modernity, its philosophy and basic
issues, as well as consequences.
2. To provide some critical approaches to modernity by influential thinkers and
intellectuals from various parts of the world.
Course aims:
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Learning outcomes:
Indicative syllabus content:
Learning delivery:
Assessment Rationale:
Assessment Weighting:
Essential Reading:
Recommended readings:
Intranet web reference:
Important notes:
On successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Tell what modernity is about
2. Discuss basic issues of modernity
3. Analyze and discuss the relationship of current issues and problems to modernity
and evaluate its contributions to our lives.
This course on philosophical approaches to modernity discusses the historical and
ideological background of modernity, including the Industrial Revolution, Enlightenment
and secularization. Then it examines various relevant concepts and phenomena like
tradition, spirituality, culture, civilization, modernity, and modernism. Also relations of
religion, faith, science and capitalism to modernity are explored.
The teaching methods will include lecturing, class discussions and watching some
movies and documentaries.
Each student will be assessed on the basis of his or her regular attendance and active
participations, the quality of mid-term examinations and quizzes as well as final
examination.
a) Regular attendance and active participation – Absence from lectures must not exceed
30%. In addition, a pattern of failure to attend lecture classes (even within the IUS 30%
requirement) will reduce the student grade. Students who exceed the IUS 30% limit shall
not be allowed to take the final examination and shall receive a mark of zero for the
course. Each student will be expected to demonstrate his or her preparation and
understanding of the course material by contributing effectively to in-class discussions.
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class.
b) Mid-term examination – The mid-term examination format will be determined
additionally by the lecturer in consultation with students. Each question will correspond
to the topics covered up to the seventh session in the course for the first mid-term exam.
c) Quizzes- Each student will have two quizzes.
d) Final paper – Each student shall write a final paper
First mid-term exam 25%
Quizzes 25%
Class participation 10%
Final Paper 40%
Harry Oldmeadow (ed.), The Betrayal of Tradition: Essays on the Spiritual Crisis of
Modernity, World Wisdom, Indiana 2005.
“Sacralization of Political Power as an Obstacle to Global Peace” – Ali Çaksu
Additional handouts might be distributed in class by lecturer.
None
Acts prohibited by the University for which discipline may be administered include
scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz,
plagiarizing, unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.
Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or
self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether
taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom
presentations, and homework. Electronic devices may not be used for exams unless
specifically authorized by the instructor. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend
upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one
assignment to an F in the course and/or expulsion from this institution. To avoid
suspicion of plagiarism you must therefore make appropriate use of quotation marks,
footnotes and clear precise references. Be aware that there are now internet tools that
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allow each submitted paper to be checked for plagiarism. Remember, plagiarism is very
serious and may well result in a suspension from IUS.
This syllabus is subject to change as deemed necessary by the instructor in coordination
with students. You are responsible for knowing the information provided in this
syllabus.
Quality assurance:
Week
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Student surveys.
Topic
Introduction to the course
-
Industrial Revolution and its effects
-
Enlightenment
“Formations of Modernity”, - Peter Hamilton.
Culture and Civilization
“Social Change” - Robert Bocock
Sacred in the politics:
Secularization and civil religion
Materialism and spirituality in the modern
world
Tradition and the individual
“Sacralization of Political Power as an Obstacle to Global
Peace” – Ali Çaksu
“A Material Civilization” – Rene Guenon
Mid-term Exam
Tradition and modernity
Religion and modernity
Religion and modernity
Relevant reading
“Tradition and the Individual” - Brian Keeble
“Ancient Beliefs or Modern Superstitions: The Search for
Authenticity” - Rama P. Coomaraswamy
“Faith and Modernity” – Karen Armstrong
Capitalism and modernity
““Fundamentalism”: A Metaphysical Perspective” - M. Ali
Lakhani
“The Desacralization of Work” - Roger Sworder
Modern idea of the progress
““Progress” in Retrospect” - Wolfgang Smith
Science, tradition and modernity
“Spirituality and Science - Convergence
or Divergence?” - Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Presentations of the research findings for the
final paper
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Week
1.
Lesson /
Date
Topics to be covered
Class activities
Introduction to the course:
Tradition, philosophy and
17/02/14
modernity
21/02/14
Problems/
Assignments
(Homework)
Readings
Learning objectives (After
this lesson student will be
able to:)


No lab activities.

Industrial Revolution: its history,
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
origins and effects
2.
Lab activities
No lab activities.

24/02/14
28/02/14


3.
4.
5.
03/03/14
07/03/14
10/03/14
14/03/14
Enlightenment: its roots,
development and impact
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
“Formations of
Modernity”,
- Peter Hamilton.
No lab activities.



Culture, civilization and relevant
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
concepts
Sacred and the profane in the
politics, secularization and
17/03/14
modern civil religion
21/03/14
No lab activities.
.
“Social Change” Robert Bocock



Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
“Sacralization of
Political Power as an
Obstacle to Global
Peace” – Ali Çaksu


Explain what is tradition
Present what is
modernity
Discuss how philosophy
can approach modernity
explain
roots and origins of the
Industrial Revolution
its development and
spread
its effects
discuss
roots of the
Enlightenment
its development
its impact
Present what is culture
Explain what is
civilization
Discuss major
civilizations in the world
Discuss the relations
between politics and the
sacred.
Explain the process of
secularization in the
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
Materialism and spirituality in
the modern world and today
6.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
24/03/14
28/03/14
Individual in relation to
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
tradition: change and continuity
7.
31/03/14
04/04/14
8.
07/04/14
11/04/14
14/04/14
18/04/14
10.
21/04/14
25/04/14

“Tradition and the
Individual”
- Brian Keeble





Midterm exam
Tradition and modernity
9.
No lab activities.
“A Material
Civilization”
– Rene Guenon
Religion and modernity
None.
No lab activities.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
“Ancient Beliefs or

Modern Superstitions:
The Search for

Authenticity” - Rama
P. Coomaraswamy

“Faith and
Modernity” – Karen
Armstrong



West
Analyze modern civil
religions
Present materialism in
past and today
Explain spirituality
Discuss possible
interactions between the
two
Explain the place of
tradition in the past
Present modern
individualism
Discuss the tension
between tradition and
individualism today
Present ancient beliefs
and their role in society
Discuss modern
superstitions and myths
Analyze the current
interaction of the two
Explain what is religion
Present what is faith
Discuss how religion and
faith interact with
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modernity
Religion and modernity
11.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
“The Desacralization
of Work” - Roger
Sworder
No lab activities.


Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
12/05/14
16/05/14
19/05/14
23/05/14


05/05/14
09/05/14
.
““Progress” in
Retrospect” Wolfgang Smith



Science, tradition and modernity
14.


Modern idea of progress
13.
““Fundamentalism”:
A Metaphysical
Perspective” - M. Ali
Lakhani
No lab activities.
28/04/14
02/05/14
Capitalism and modernity
12.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
Interactive lecturing, discussion.
No lab activities.
“Spirituality and
Science Convergence
or Divergence?” Seyyed Hossein Nasr


Present origins of
fundamentalism in
Christianity
Discuss fundamentalism
in various religious
traditions
Analyze the role and
function of
fundamentalism in the
modern world
Present the historical
development of
capitalism
Explain possible religious
roots of capitalism
Discuss how the modern
capitalism distances
itself from sacred and
religions
Present the rise of the
modern idea of progress
Explain how it
dominated long time the
intellectual arena
Discuss criticisms of that
idea
Explain the relation
between tradition and
science
Discuss spirituality and
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
15.
26/05/14
Review of the course
30/05/14
Discussions.
science
Analyze the decline of
modernity and discuss
post-modernism
No lab activities.
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