Fall 2006

Honors 2101: Core Intellectual Traditions
World of Antiquity

T Th 9:10-10:30,   BUC 210

Professor Bryan Benham
E-mail: bryan.benham@philosophy.utah.edu
Website: hum.utah.edu/~bbenham
Office: OSH 338K, 581-7302

Course Description

In this course we will be exploring the intellectual heritage of the ancient world, including Ancient Mesopotamia, the Near-East, Greece, and Rome. Our entry into these civilizations will be through the written documents left to us, including The Epic of Gilgamesh, the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Job from the Old Testament, the Iliad and Odessey of Homer, a selection of Greek plays, The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, The Republic and other dialogues of Plato, Nicomachean Ethics and Politics of Aristotle, The Aeneid of Virgil, The History of Rome by Livy, and and the Metamorphoses of Ovid. Although we will pay attention to the historical and political conditions of the time, we will focus on the intellectual contributions of these works and how they have shaped and continue to influence our view of heroism, the gods, fate, justice, virtue, and the good life; in short the nature of human existence.

Required Texts (All are available on reserve at Marriott Library)

• EG: The Epic of Gilgamesh, (Penguin Classics) translated by Andrew George. 0140449191
• NBCL: Norton Book of Classical Literature, (W. W. Norton) edited by Bernard Knox. 0393034267
• REP: Republic, by Plato, (Hackett) translated by C. D. C. Reeve. 0872207366
• AEN: The Aeneid of Virgil, (Bantam Classic) translated by Allen Mandelbaum. 0553210416.

Course Grades

This course will cover a great deal of material which demands a heavy reading load. The course will be a mix of lecture and discussion, with emphasis on in class discussion of the reading material. Regular attendance and participation will be noted. No late papers/assignments and no electronic submissions will be accepted, unless arrangements have been made with the professor prior to due date, or in case of serious emergency. The grade for this course will be calculated on the basis of the following assignments:

•  60% = Three short papers: ~5 pages (2 midterms and a final), on topics addressed in the course material. Topics will be suggested, but students are encouraged to develop their own paper topic. Student topics must be cleared by the professor. See schedule for due dates. Details about paper requirements will be posted here: Paper Requirements (PDF) . However, at minimum the paper should have a clear thesis (main topic) with cogent discussion and examples from the relevant texts to illustrate and support the thesis. Connections to contemporary texts or other media are also encouraged. Papers should be very focused and narrow in their topic.

•  30% = Weekly reading assignments, summaries or questions, due in class on Thursdays for all readings assigned during that week. Students will be notify regarding the specific assignment for each week. Summaries should contain (a) a brief summary in your own words of the material covered for that week (~1-2 paragraphs), and (b) a critical response to the readings (e.g., did you like/dislike the readings? Why? What parallels or similarities to find in other work? Are there particular characters, themes, or styles you find interesting? Why). The summary isn't expected to be more than two pages. If reading questions are assigned, they will be posted on the schedule for that week.

•  10% = Attendance and Participation.

 

Course and University Policies

•  University ADA : The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.   If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD).   CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

•  University Attendance Policy:   http://www.acs.utah.edu/sched/handbook/attend.htm

•  Accommodation Policy: No accomodations for content will be made in the course. For university details see:   http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/index.html

•  Academic Honesty:   http://www.sa.utah.edu/code.html

•  Drop/Withdrawal and Other Important Dates to Remember : http://www.saff.utah.edu/regist/calendar/datesDeadlines/fall2005.htm

•  University Grades : Grades will be assigned according to the standards reported in the class schedule http://www.acs.utah.edu/sched/handbook/grpolicy.htm

•  ASUU Tutoring Center and the University Writing Center:

•  ASUU Tutoring Center   http://www.sa.utah.edu/tutoring /

•  University Writing Center http://www.writingcenter.utah.edu/

 

Course Schedule