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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 379"
COURSE NAME: "European Intellectual History"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: De Caprariis Luca
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 15:00-16:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS: M, W: 10:00-11:00; T, TH: 17:00-17:45

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine the European cultural and intellectual experience from the 1870's.  Positivism, Liberalism, Idealism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Existentialism will be discussed, focusing on the relation between ideas and arts, politics, economics. We will pursue a number of themes, including the emergence of distinct class identities,  religion and morality, new forms of nationalism, the changing nature of sefhood. Special attention will be given to the "crisis of the end of the century," the transformation of political and social thought and the rise of authoritarian and totalitarian idelogies.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
There will be two class meetings per week. Lectures will be followed by questions and discussion. Students should come to class prepared, completing the assigned readings before each class meeting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students should develop a firm grasp of the main ideas and transformation which determined European intellectual life from the end of the 1800's
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Schnitzler Century: The Making of Middle Class CulturePeter GayNorton978-0393323634      
The Culture of Western Europe: The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries George L. MosseWestview Press978-0813306230      
The Magic MountainThomas Mannany edition00000000000000     
Nazi Culture: Intellectual, Cultural and Social Life in the Third Reich George MosseUniversity of Wisconsin Press978-0299193041      
Fin-De-Siecle Vienna: Politics and Culture Carl E. Schorske Vintage978-0394744780      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
in-class midterm examessay exam: students will answer two essay questions25%
in-class final examessay exam: students will answer two essay questions<br />35%
essaysstudents will submit three four page essays30%
in class participation 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Strength and coherence of analysis, command of material, and originality of thought will determine students' grade.
Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.
A: Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B: This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C: This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D: This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.


-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Students should keep their mobile phones turned off during lecture. You may use your laptop to take notes, but you are not allowed to surf the web during class. Should you fail to follow these rules I will ban laptops from classroom altogether.
Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Students should keep their cell phones turned off during lecture.  You may use your laptop  to take notes, but you are not allowed to surf the web during class. Should you fail to follow these guidelines I will ban laptop from class altogether.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Schedule of Topics

September

4    Intro. The Enlightenment

6    Romanticism. 
        “The primacy of feelings” 
        Nationalism.
        MC: 11-84

11    Liberalism and Conservatism.
        MC: 101-146.

13    Hegel and Idealism.
        MC: 147-158

18    Socialism and Marxism.
        MC: 159-177 
        MC: 179-202

20    Positivism: the idea of progress and the Science of Society.
        MC: 203-216

21    The century of the bourgeoisie: The making of Middle Class Culture I.
        Gay, Schnitzler’s Century

25    The century of the bourgeoisie: The making of Middle Class Culture II.
        Gay, Schnitzler’s Century

27    The century of the bourgeoisie: The making of Middle Class Culture II. 
         Gay, Schnitzler’s Century

October

2      The Crisis of the Fin de siècle
        I. Literature and Art
        MC: 219-236, Shorske 

4      II. Racism and the Emergence of Volkish culture.
        MC: 85-99; 237-249. Mosse

9       III. Dissolving Certainties. Freud.
        MC 251-293 

11        “The Magic Mountain”.

12        “The Magic Mountain”. 

16       “The Magic Mountain”.

18        Midterm Examination

23        Paper Presentation

25        Paper Presentation

30        Paper Presentation

November

6        Paper Presentation

8        World War I and the Rise of New Totalitarian World Views.
          I. Elitism and the Rejection of Liberalism. Pareto and Juenger.
          MC 297-341 .

13       II. Italian Fascism
           MC: 343-357 

15      III. Hitler’s National Socialism
           MC: 359-376, Mosse: Nazi Culture

20      IV. Russian Communism:
           MC: 377-393

27       Post War Europe. I
           MC: 395-421

29       Post War Europe. II
           MC: 395-421

December

4        Towards the twenty first century.

6        Conclusions.