Western Thought Homework
Final Assignment
So now we've come to the end of the road. Please help me out by filling out this exit survey on the web as soon as possible. Thanks, and I really hope you enjoyed the class.
Homework 66
Please think of ONE overarching, ultimate question that you are interested in discussing. Enter it here before MIDNIGHT Thursday.
-Due Friday, June 11th
Homework 65
Please finish Beyond Good and Evil. Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT SUNDAY night.
-Due Sunday, June 6th
Homework 64
Please read Part Seven: Our Virtues (pp.143-170). Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, May 27th
Homework 63
Please read Part Six: We Scholars. Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, May 26th
Homework 62
Please read Part Five: The Natural History of Morals (pp. 97-118). Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT Saturday.
-Due Thursday, May 20th
Homework 61
More Nietzsche. Please read Part Four: Epigrams and Interludes (pp. 79-94). Enter your three favorite epigrams and any questions resulting from them in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Thursday, May 20th
Homework 60
More Nietzsche. Please read Part Three: What is Religious (pp. 57-76). Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, May 17th
Homework 59
More Nietzsche. Please read Part Two: The Free Spirit (pp.35-56). Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, May 14th
Homework 58
We are beginning Friedrich Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. Please read the Preface (pp. 1-3) as well as Part One: On The Prejudices of the Philosophers (pp. 9-32). Enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, May 11th
Homework 57
Please read Chapter V of On Liberty--up to page 123. Please enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, May 7th
Homework 56
Please read Chapter IV of On Liberty--up to page 99. Please enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, May 4th
Homework 55
Please read Chapter III of On Liberty--up to page 78. Please enter your questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT Saturday.
-Due Monday, May 3rd
Homework 54
More of On Liberty. Please read up to page 57. Please enter three questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight. (NOTE: I'm not embedding the form--just click the link to find it).
-Due Thursday, April 29th
Homework 53
I've decided to make the reading a bit shorter--we are going to read Chapter II over TWO nights. So, for tomorrow, please read On Liberty from page 16 to page 36 (up to the start of the second paragraph on that page).
Please enter three questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight. (NOTE: I'm not embedding the form--just click the link to find it).
-Due Tuesday, April 26th.
Homework 52
We are beginning John Stuart Mill's On Liberty. Please read up to page 15 in the book. Please enter three questions in the form here before MIDNIGHT tonight. (NOTE: I'm not embedding the form--just click the link to find it).
-Due Friday, April 23rd
Homework 51
Please finish the Communist Manifesto, which can be found here.
Please think of three questions for tomorrow and enter them in the form below BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
-Due Wednesday, April 21st.
Homework 50
Please read the second section of the Communist Manifesto--Proletarians and Communists. Book can be found here.
Please think of three questions for Monday and enter them in the form below BEFORE MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.
-Due Monday, April 19th.
Homework 49
1. Paper assignment: Compare any aspect of Hobbes to any aspect of Locke. DUE TUESDAY, APRIL 20th
2. We are beginning Marx (and Engels). Here is a PDF of the whole book--it is only 45 pages long. Please read the Preamble and the section entitled "Bourgeois and Proletarians"--up to page 12 in the PDF.
Please think of three questions for tomorrow and enter them in the form below BEFORE MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, April 14th
Homework 48
Please read Book Four of the Social Contract, which can be found here.
Please think of three questions--submit them in the form below by Saturday at midnight.
-Due Friday, March 26th.
Homework 47
Sorry for all the confusion in class today. For tomorrow, please submit three questions on Book 3 in Rousseau's Social Contract. I know that in class, I asked you to send me your questions by e-mail, but now that I've mastered Google Docs, I'm asking you NOT to e-mail me your questions--just submit them into the form below before midnight tonight! Thanks.
-Due Thursday, April 8th
Homework 46
Please read Book Three of the Social Contract, which can be found here.
Please think of three questions for Wednesday.
ALSO: Please bring in a check for $19.00 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for our books.
-Due Friday, March 26th.
Homework 45
Please read Book Two of the Social Contract, which can be found here.
Please think of three questions for Wednesday.
ALSO: Please bring in a check for $19.00 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for our books.
AND: Proof that our class will make you happy?
-Due Wednesday, March 23rd.
Homework 44
We are finishing Locke. Please find the final section here.
Please think of three questions for Thursday.
-Due Thursday, March 18th.
Homework 43
We are continuing with Locke. Please read the third section here.
Please think of three questions for Tuesday.
-Due Tuesday, March 16th.
Homework 42
We are continuing with Locke. Please read the second section here.
Please think of three questions for Friday.
-Due Thursday, March 11th.
Homework 41
We are beginning John Locke's Second Treatise. Please read the first section here.
Please think of three questions for Wednesday.
-Due Wednesday, March 10th.
Homework 40
This is our final reading from Hobbes's Leviathan.
Please think of three questions for Monday.
-Due Monday, March 8th.
Homework 39
Here is the second reading from Hobbes's Leviathan.
Please think of three questions for tomorrow.
-Due Thursday, March 4th.
The Machiavelli Essay
Will be due on Friday, March 12. With an optional early deadline of Monday, March 8th. Please make it three to four pages long, double-spaces with no wacky fonts or margins. Questions can be found here. Please make at least some reference to the text of The Prince in your essay!
ALSO:
Homework 38
Here is the first reading from Hobbes's Leviathan. I'm sorry to report that it is a bit long, but we have to make up ground because of the snow day.
As usual, please think of three questions for tomorrow.
-Due Tuesday, March 2nd.
Homework 37
Finish the Prince
Think of three questions!
-Due Thursday, February 25th
Homework 36
Please read The Prince, from p. 70 (Chapter XVII) to p. 94 (up to, but not including, Chapter XXI)
Think of three questions!
-Due Tuesday, February 23rd
The Schedule of the Course
Can now be found here in annoying legal size paper (PDF).
Homework 35
Please read The Prince, from p. 57 (Chapter IX) to p. 70 (up to, but not including, Chapter XVII)
Think of three questions!
-Due Friday, February 12th
Homework 34
Please read The Prince, from p. 40 (Chapter IX) to p. 57 (up to, but not including, Chapter XIII).
Think of three questions!
Also, for those who are interested, here is a blow-by-blow account written by Machiavelli about exactly how Cesare Borgia slaughtered his enemies at Sinigalia.
-Due Tuesday, February 9th
Homework 33
Please read The Prince, from p. 22 (Chapter VI) to p. 40 (up to, but not including, Chapter IX)
Think of three questions!
-Due Friday, February 5th
Homework 32
So this is our last assignment of this term. I've thought about the assignment that I gave out in class and have modified it a bit. Please think of ONE overarching question that you are interested in discussing (you can list more beneath it if you wish as supplements).
-Due Monday, January 25th
Homework 31
Please read these excerpts from Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica. Please finish this section by Thursday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Thursday, January 21st
Optional
Check out this 1919 Oliver Wendell Holmes piece on the Natural Law--it's only three pages long and you may find it very interesting.
Homework 30
Please read these excerpts from Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica. Please finish this section by Tuesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Tuesday, January 19th
Homework 29
Please read these excerpts from Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica. Please finish this section by Thursday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Thursday, January 14th
Homework 28
Please read these excerpts from Augustine's City of God. Please finish this section by Tuesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Tuesday, January 12th
Homework 27
Please read these excerpts from Augustine's City of God. Please finish this section by Friday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Friday, January 8th
Homework 26
Please read these excerpts from Augustine's City of God. Please finish this section by Wednesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Wednesday, January 6th
Essay 4 (Politics)
In an essay no more than four and no less than three double spaced, double sided pages, please answer one of the questions found here.
-Due Monday, January 18th
ALSO
Homework 25
Please read these excerpts from Augustine's City of God. Please finish this section by the end of break and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Monday, January 4th
Homework 24
We are beginning a short unit on Augustine. Please check out Augustine the African in preparation for class.
-Due Monday, December 21st
Homework 23
Please read Book 8 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Thursday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Thursday, December 17th
Homework 22
Please read Book 7 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Tuesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Tuesday, December 15th
Homework 21
Please read Book 6 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Friday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Friday, December 11th
Homework 20
Please read Book 5 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Wednesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Wednesday, December 9th
Homework 19
Please read Book 4 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Monday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Monday, December 6th
Homework 18
Please read Book 3 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Thursday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Thursday, December 3rd
Please bring in a check for $27 dollars made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the books we received. Thanks!
Homework 17
Please read Book 2 of Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Tuesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Tuesday, December 1st
Please bring in a check for $27 dollars made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the books we received. Thanks!
Homework 16
Start reading Aristotle's Politics. Please finish this section by Wednesday and have three questions prepared for class.
-Due Wednesday, November 25th
ALSO
Essay 3 (Republic)
In an essay no more than four and no less than three double spaced, double sided pages, please answer one of the questions found here.
-Due Tuesday, December 1
AND
Please bring in a check for $27 dollars made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the books we received. Thanks!
Homework 15
Please read Book 9 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Wednesday, November 18th
Homework 14
Please read Book 8 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Thursday, November 12th
Homework 13
Please read Book 7 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Friday, November 6th
Bonus Link
This came up in one of my class digressions and I felt I had to share it. in the 1990s, two guys did a poll to determine what people's least favorite subjects, musical styles and instruments were. They determined that people hated songs that were too long, holiday songs, children's choirs, changing tempos, opera, rap, cowboy music, bagpipes, Walmart (!), banjos and much more. Then, awesomely, they compiled it all into what they called the Most Unwanted Song. I actually think it's fantastic. Can you make it through all 22 minutes?
Homework 12
Please read Book 6 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Friday, October 30th
Homework 11
Please read Book 5 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Tuesday, October 27th
Homework 10
Please read Book 4 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
Also, I just encountered an interesting article in Slate magazine about Thucydides. Check it out.
-Due Wednesday, October 21st
Homework 9
Please read Book 3 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Friday, October 16th
Homework 8
Please read Book 2 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Tuesday, October 13th
ALSO
Essay 2 (Socratic Dialogues)
In an essay no more than three and no less than two double spaced, double sided pages, please answer one of the questions found here.
-Due Friday, October 16th
ALSO
Here is the Orwell essay that I mentioned: "Politics and the English Language."
Homework 7
Please read Book 1 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions to submit.
-Due Tuesday, October 6th
Homework 6
Sorry this took so long to post. Please write three questions about Crito and be prepared to discuss.
-Due Monday, October 4th
Homework (No number)
We are continuing to discuss the Apology, but get started on Plato's Crito. I want you to be done with it by Friday. Don't worry about thinking of questions yet--instead, look at the questions for the Apology and be prepared to discuss them again tomorrow.
-Due Friday, September 31st.
Homework 5
Sorry this took so long to post. Please read Plato's Apology, write down three questions and be prepared to discuss.
-Due Tuesday, September 29th.
Homework 4
Please start reading Plato's Meno. It is 34 pages long, and I'd like you to be done with it by Wednesday, September 23rd. On that date, we will have a discussion, and on that date, I'd like you to hand in three questions on the work. Tomorrow, I am going to give you a little introduction to Socratic dialogue.
-Due Wednesday, September 23rd
ALSO
Essay 1 (Thucydides)
In an essay no more than three and no less than two double spaced, double sided pages, please answer one of the questions found here.
-Due Tuesday, September 29th
Homework (No number)
Please read the following brief introduction to the Presocratics (PDF). Thanks to Masha Gindler for finding the text!
-Due Monday, September 21st.
Homework (No number)
No additional reading, but if you are interested, here is the first batch of Dr. Stefanacci's notes on Pre-Socratic philosophy, Athenian and Spartan government--check them out if you're interested.
-Due Friday, September 18th.
Homework 3
Please read the Melian Dialogue from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War. Think of three questions and write them down for class. Be prepared to discuss!
-Due Thursday, September 17th.
Homework 2
Using the Funeral
Oration of Pericles, please copy down three quotes that you find most
interesting or provocative. Be prepared
to discuss!
-Due Tuesday, September 15th.
Homework 1
Please read the Funeral Oration of Pericles. Think of three questions and write them down for class. My apologies for the lateness of this assignment! I thought that it went up on Friday.
-Due Monday, September 14th.
Homework (No Written Assignment)
Check out this brief history of Athens. Also, look at this very brief overview of Athenian democracy.
-Due Friday, September 11th.