The Human Event I
HON 171, Fall 2010
Thomas.W.Martin@asu.edu
480-727-6720 (Office)
Office Hours: 1:30 – 2:30 PM on TTh or by appointment, Sage 169
Course Description:
All Human Event courses are intended to strengthen your ability to read critically and
express ideas clearly. The primary aim is to encourage you to think hard about
historically challenging concepts. In this course, the concept of “cosmology” – the origin
of the universe, including humanity’s place within it – will be approached from early
mythological, religious, and scientific perspectives.
We begin the course with a reasonably thorough study of the major creation stories from
every part of the world. While this material will be useful in understanding the
emergence of Greek science – much of which grows out of cosmological questions – we
are not interested in this material solely as a precursor to scientific cosmology. All
peoples have creation stories, and these stories (both sacred texts and oral traditions)
serve as excellent points of comparison across cultures and epochs. This first part of the
course might be conceived as an intensive foray into comparative anthropology.
Beyond this point, the course focuses more explicitly on Greek conceptions of the
cosmos, and the manner in which these were incorporated into Abrahamic (Hebrew,
Christian and Muslim) philosophy and society. Here also, we are interested in this
material both for its own sake, and because it provides the framework necessary to
understand Galileo, Newton (and beyond) in The Human Event II.
Course Materials:
The only required physical text is Primal Myths: Creating the World (edited by B.
Sproul) available in the bookstore. All other readings are provided as electronic
documents (PDF format) posted in Blackboard. Students MUST come to class with the
reading either on their laptop or in hardcopy form.
Grading:
Argumentative Essays (55% of course grade). You will write three (3) six-page papers
for this course (+/- one page). Your lowest-grade paper will count for 15% of your final
grade, while the other two papers will count for 20% each. The three papers will each be
based on the primary works, with general guidelines provided separately. In these
papers, you will hone your ability to analyze texts critically, as well as integrate concepts
across texts. A range of prompts will be provided for each assignment.
Class Participation (35% of course grade). This means far more than simply showing
up to class. Attendance is taken for granted: you can miss no more than two class
sessions without damaging your class participation grade. You are expected to have done
the reading, and come to class – text in hand – prepared to discuss it. Successful
discussions depend entirely on preparation.
Reading Reactions (10% of course grade). These will be extremely brief essays
deposited in Blackboard the midnight before each class. A standard sheet and
instructions will be provided. In-class quizzes can occur at any time.
Format for naming files: (First Name)_(Last Initial)_RR#
e.g.; “John_D_RR3” for the third reading reaction
Policies and Procedures:
Attendance: If you miss more than two classes, your participation grade will be lowered
by 1/3 grade for each additional absence. Six absences will automatically result in a
maximum possible course grade of C. You must bring the assigned text to class, or you
will be marked absent. Arriving late to class more than twice will result in deductions
from your class participation grade.
Due Dates and Late Assignments: Papers are due by the time stated in the syllabus. If
you have a documented, valid excuse to turn in an assignment after a deadline (serious
illness, family emergency, etc.) inform me as soon as possible prior to the due date.
Otherwise, submissions made after the due date and time will be marked down one grade
increment (e.g., A- to B+) per calendar day late (i.e., if the paper is due Friday night, and
you submit electronically on Sunday morning, you are two calendar days late, and lose
two grade increments).
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as deliberately passing off someone else’s words or
ideas as your own: it is theft of intellectual property. In the “real” world, such theft can
result in very severe penalties. In the world of the Human Event, it will result in failure
of the course, as well as referral to the Student Conduct Committee of the University and
possible expulsion from the University. The Barrett Honors College utilizes a plagiarism
service that checks a database of over 70,000 student essays and text notes. Besides not
being worth the risk, plagiarism completely undermines everything we are trying to
accomplish. Violators will receive absolutely no sympathy.
Student Conduct: Students must conduct themselves according to the ASU policies
posted online at http://www.asu.edu/studentlife/judicial. These include the ASU Student
Code of Conduct and the Student Academic Integrity Policy. For information on policies
for grievances and grade complaints, follow the following links at http://honors.asu.edu:
(1) Advising and Curriculum, (2) Course Policies and Procedures, and (3) Student
Academic Grievance Procedures.
Barrett Writing Center
The Barrett Writing Center is available to assist all Barrett Honors College students with
papers for HON classes only. Directed by BHC faculty and staffed by BHC writing
tutors who themselves have completed both HON 171 and 172, the Barrett Writing
Center offers small group workshops and individual tutoring on writing papers for your
HON courses. Its goal is to help you improve your lifelong writing and critical thinking
skills, so please take advantage of its services. Go to the BWC web site at
http://honors.asu.edu/w-Barrett_Writing_Center-107.aspx. Here you can access updated
tutoring and workshop schedules, appointment information, academic background of the
staff, and internet links related to academic essay writing.
Class Schedule
Daily Schedule Subject to Change
Th Aug 19 Course Introduction
T Aug 24
African Myths (Primal Myths, Section 1 = RR#1)
Th Aug 26 American and Eskimo Myths (PM, Sections 6 & 7 = RR#2)
T Aug 31
Asian Myths (PM, Sections 4 & 5 = RR#3)
Th Sep 2
Middle Eastern and “Western” Myths (PM, Sections 2 & 3 = RR#4)
T Sep 7
Pre-Socratics
Hippocrates: On the Sacred Disease (RR#5)
Th Sep 9
Hippocrates: On Ancient Medicine (RR#6); The Oath
T Sep 14
Preparation for Tribunal 1
Th Sep 16 Tribunal 1: Greeks vs. Shamans
T Sep 21
Lao Tzu: Tao te Ching (RR#7)
Th Sep 23 Peer Review of Paper Draft
The Golden Mean
Fri Sept 24
Paper #1 due by 11:59 PM
T Sept 28
Plato: The Republic (RR#8)
Th Sept 30 Plato: The Republic (RR#9)
T Oct 5
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (RR#10)
Th Oct 7
Confucius: Doctrine of the Mean (RR#11)
T Oct 12
Epicurus: Sovran Maxims (RR#12); Epicurus’ Riddle
Th Oct 14 Lucretius: On the Nature of Things (RR#13)
T Oct 19
Marcus Aurelius: Meditations (RR#14)
Th Oct 21 Boethius: Consolation of Philosophy (RR#15)
T Oct 26
Ibn Rushd (Averroes): Harmony of Religion and Philosophy (RR#16)
Th Oct 28 Aristotle, Theodoric and Pals: Ancient and Medieval Optics
Fri Oct 29
T Nov 2
Paper #2 due by 11:59 PM
Book of Ecclesiastes (RR#17)
Th Nov 4* Movie Nite (6 - 9 PM): Luther
(No class during day: Film location TBA)
T Nov 9
Erasmus: In Praise of Folly (RR#18)
Th Nov 11 Veteran’s Day (NO CLASS)
T Nov 16
More: Utopia (RR#19)
Th Nov 18 Machiavelli: The Prince (RR#20)
T Nov 23
Sun Tzu: The Art of War (RR#21)
Th Nov 25 Thanksgiving Holiday (NO CLASS)
T Nov 30
Preparation for Tribunal 2
Th Dec 2
Tribunal 2: Moralists vs. Amoralists
T Dec 7
Course Summation
Fri Dec 10 Paper #3 due by 11:59 PM