[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2001/2002


Rationality, Religion, and Modern Literature
ENGL 314 SP

Clusters:

Christian Studies

Since the late 19th century, both practitioners of the human sciences (an intersection of philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and psychology) and literary artists have addressed the problem of moral authority and religion in a rationally organized, technological modern world. This course examines influential theories concerning the relationship of rationality and morality, beginning with Max Weber's THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM. In conjunction with theoretical works we will al so read a selection of fiction, beginning with Defoe's ROBINSON CRUSOE, that exemplify how modern literary works are structured through concerns about moral action and processes of rationalization. Our discussions will also address debates about the universal validity of rational thought and the cultural specificity of moral-ethical values and beliefs. The course has two goals: to introduce students to a method for thinking about the relation of rationality to the religious/moral sphere, and to scru tinize literary attitudes toward reason, emotion, and morality.

MAJOR READINGS

Theory by Appiah, Durkheim, Freud, Malinowski, Gellner, Hume, Weber; fiction by Defoe, Chekov, Joyce, Cather, and Forster.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly response papers and a final paper project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course counts toward the English Department's Theory requirement.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002


Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459