Honors 2103

Newton, Darwin, Freud - Making the Modern Mind

Fall 2007

TTh 9:10-10:30 AM, OSH 106

Prof. Bryan Benham

Department of Philosophy

OSH 338K, 581-7302

bryan.benham@philosophy.utah.edu

hum.utah.edu/~bbenham

This course will focus on three key figures in the construction of the modern era, since the onset of the scientific revolution. Although many ideas, social forces, and accidents of history combine to make up the modern era, one of the most pervasive and influential is the emergence of a scientific world-view. Newton, Darwin, and Freud have each defined a large part of our scientific mindset. In this course we will read original works from each of these figures, as well as some secondary literature on their contributions. We will pay particular attention to the influence each had on our notion of an ordered universe, on social organization and moral sensibilities, as well as on contemporary issues.

Required Texts:

• (SBM) Mathews, ed. The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy. Hackett, 1989. ISBN: 0872200744.
• (N) Newton. Norton Critical Edition. Selected and edited by I. Bernard Cohen and Richard S. Westfall. Norton, 1995. ISBN: 0393959023.
• (D) Darwin. Norton Critical Edition, 3^rd ed. Edited by Philip Appleman. Norton, 2001. ISBN: 0393958493.
• (FR) The Freud Reader. Edited by Peter Gay. Norton, 1989. ISBN: 0393314030.

Grading: This course will be reading and writing intensive, and require a great deal of participation in class by the students. Grades will be calculated on the following basis:

• 60% Three term papers that focus on each of the figures discussed in the course: Newton, Darwin, and Freud. See schedule for due dates. Details concerning topics and expectations will posted on schedule.

• 20% Weekly writing assignments, due Thursdays. See schedule for details each week.

• 20% Participation and other in-class assignments. See schedule for details each week.

Course Policies

• General Student Responsibilities

  Students are responsible for knowing and meeting the course requirements and policies. This includes being up to date on the course content even if the student is absent from class meetings, and being apprised of changes to the syllabus and assignments that are announced in class and/or updated on the website. If the student is having difficulty keeping up with the class, it is the student's responsibility to take appropriate measures to ensure he or she is meeting the course requirements. I encourage students to regularly talk with me about their progress and what they can do to make sure they are meeting the course expectations.

• Academic Misconduct

  Academic misconduct, which includes cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, will not be tolerated in this course and will be dealt with severely. If caught cheating or plagiarizing, student will receive a failing grade for the course and be reported to the University administration for possible further sanction. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the University's policy on academic misconduct. More information is in the Student Code, available at http://www.sa.utah.edu/code/.

• Drop/Withdrawal and other important dates

  http://www.saff.utah.edu/regist/calendar/datesDeadlines/fall2004.htm

• Assistance with writing or researching

  Tutoring is available through the ASUU Tutoring Center in the Student Services Building, Room 330. Students may schedule a day, evening or weekend appointment.   Students who qualify for a Pell Grant may also qualify for free tutoring.   For more information call 581-5153 or go to http://www.sa.utah.edu/Tutoring/.

  Writing Center located at the Marriott Library.   More information can be found by going to http://www.writingcenter.utah.edu/.

• (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

  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. For more information go to http://disability.utah.edu/.

• Accommodations policy

  All of the course content, reading assignments, films, assignments, and other teaching materials have been chosen in order to achieve the pedagogical objectives of this course best. Some of the writings, lectures, films, or presentations in this course may include material that conflicts with the core beliefs of some students. Please review the syllabus carefully to see if the course is one that you are committed to taking. We will not make content accommodations in this course. http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/index.html

Reading and Lecture Schedule

Date	Subject	Readings and Assignments
Aug. 21	Introduction	Discussion: What makes us ‘modern'?
Aug. 23	Video: Newton's Dark Secret	In-class video and questions Recommended: SBM, chapters 1 and 2
Aug. 28	Method and Mechanics	Unless otherwise indicated, all readings on Newton are from Newton: Quaestiones and queries: pp. 6-12, 39-56 Principia: pp. 224-38 On the System of the World: pp. 257-74 (revised 09.03.07)
Aug. 30	Method and Mechanics	Queries and Rules: pp. 115-122 Cohen, Newton's Method and Newton's Style: pp. 126-44 Recommended: SBM, chapter 5. Writing Assignment #1 (pdf)
Sept. 4	Optics & Experiment	Of Colours , p. 149-64 Newton to Oldenberg, February 6, 1972: pp. 171-81 Schaffer, Glass Works: pp. 202-17 Recommended: Shapiro, Experiment and Mathematics in Newton's Theory of Color: pp. 191-202. (revised 09.03.07)
Sept. 6	Light & Matter	Hypothesis of Light : pp. 12-34 (read for theory of matter; revised 09.03.07) Thackery, Matter in a Nut-Shell: pp. 87-96 Writing Assignment #2 (pdf)
Sept. 11	Alchemy	Newton's Alchemy: readings from pp. 301-13 Dobbs, Newton's Alchemy and His Theory of Matter: pp. 315-324
Sept. 13	Theology	Four Letters to Richard Bentley: pp. 330-339 Principia , General Scholium: pp. 339-42 Westfall, Newton and Christianity: pp. 356-70 Recommended: Kubrin, Newton and the Cyclical Cosmos: pp. 281-96 Writing Assignment #3 (pdf)
Sept. 18	Culture of Newtonianism	Korye, The Significance of the Newtonian Synthesis: pp. 58-72 (compare Einstein's article below, Sept. 20.) Dobbs and Jacob, part 2 of Newton and the Culture of Newtonianism (pdf) Recommended: The Newtonian Moment (New York Public Library exhibition, 2004-05; http://www.nypl.org/research/newton/ ; The companion book is available in Marriott Library, QC16.N54 F45 2004.
Sept. 20	Newton Today	Isaac Newton, by Albert Einstein at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/newton/einstein.html Chapters 1 and 2 from A Brief History of Time. (pdf) In-class video, part 1 from The Elegant Universe (Video streaming online or check out video in Marriott Library: QC794.6 S85 E44 2003) Paper #1 Topics and Paper Recommondations and Requirements Paper Due Friday, Sept. 21 by noon in my office mailbox (OSH 341). No Writing Assignment this week, but in-class projects will require familiarity with the assigned readings. (If it turns out students are not reading the assigned, then writing assignments will be required in future weeks that papers are due.)
Sept. 25	Before Darwin	Unless otherwise indicated, all readings for Darwin are from Darwin: Appleman, Darwin: On Chainging the Mind, pp.3-20. Science: de Beer, Biology before the Beagle, pp. 33-39. Malthus, An Essay on the Principle of Population, pp. 39-40 Lamarck, Zoological Philosophy, pp. 44-49 Lyell, Principles of Geology, pp. 49-52 Philosophy: Paley, Natural Theology, pp. 41-44 Herschel, The Study of Natural Philosophy, pp. 52-57 Whewell, Astronomy and General Physics Consiered..., pp. 57-61 Recommended: Darwin's review of opinions on the origin of species, An Historical Sketch..., pp. 87-94.
Sept. 27	Darwin's Voyage	Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle, pp. 67-81 Letter from Darwin to Asa Gray (Sept. 5, 1857) pp. 85-87 Darwin, Unpublished Work, pp. 82-85 Recommended: Wallace, On the Tendency of Varieites..., pp. 61-64 Recommended: Mayr, Who is Darwin, pp. 23-29 Writing Assignment #4 (pdf)
Oct. 2	Origin of Species	Selections from Chapters 1-4: pp. 95-135
Oct. 4	Origin of Species	Selections from Chapters 6, 9, and 14: pp. 135-151 & 158-174 Writing Assignment #5 (pdf)
Oct. 9	Fall Break
Oct. 11	Fall Break
Oct. 16	Descent of Man	Selections from Chapters 1, 3, 8, 19, and 20: pp. 175-194, 213-222, and 230-243.
Oct. 18	Critics and Supporters Class Cancelled	Critics Hull, Darwin and His Critics, pp. 257-265 Sedgwick, Objections to Mr. Darwin's theory..., pp. 265-267 Owen, Darwin on the Origin of Species, pp. 267-270 Jenkin, Review of the Origin of Species, pp. 271-275 Supporters Hooker, Flora Tasmaniae, pp. 276-280 T.H. Huxley, On the Relations of Man..., pp. 280- 285 Lyell, Principles of Geology, pp. 285-287 Wallace, The Debt of Science to Darwin, pp. 287-288 Writing Assignment #6 (pdf) Turn in next week.
Oct. 23	Social Darwinians and Eugenics	Spencer Progress: Its Law and Cause, selections availble online at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/spencer-darwin.html Hofstadter, The Vogue of Spencer, pp. 389-395 Readings by Carnegie and Kropotkin (and even Nowak et al. if you have time) in pp. 396-409. Recommended: Galton - Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope and Aims, available online at http://galton.org/essays/1900-1911/galton-1904-am-journ-soc-eugenics-scope-aims.htm (Do not need to read the appendix of the discussion, focus on the main paper)
Oct. 25	Darwin and Ethics	T. H. Huxely, Evolution and Ethics, pp. 501-503 J. Huxley, Evolutionary Ethics, pp. 503-507 Ruse and Wilson, The Evolution of Ethics, pp. 507-511 Recommended: de Waal, pp. 511-17; and Ridley, pp. 517-524 Writing Assignment #7 (pdf)
Oct. 30	Darwin and "Creation Science"	Readings for In-class Mock Debate: Required: Arkansas 1981 Act 590 and Witness Testimony (pdf) Recommended: US District Court Opinion - McLean v. Arkansas (pdf) The Scopes Trial, pp. 542-549 National Academy of Sciences, Evolution and the Nature of Science, pp. 289-300 Recommended: Of Additional Interest - On Intelligent Design: Paley, Natural Theology, pp. 41-44 (review) Morris, Scientific Creationism, pp. 557-564 Wheeler, Review of Morris, pp. 564-569 Johnson, Darwin on Trial, pp. 581-586 Scott, Review of Johnson, pp. 586-592 Behe, Darwin's Black Box, pp. 592-601 Dorit, Review of Behe, pp. 601-604 Ruse, Darwin's New Critics on Trial, pp. 605-612
Nov. 1	After Darwin	Bowler, Evolutionary Synthesis, pp. 319-326 Douglas Erwin, Dawrin Still Rules, but Some Biologiests Dream of a paradigm Shift. (pdf) from New York Times, June 26, 2007. Recommended: Richards, Darwin and the Descent of Woman, pp. 436-444 Nesse and Williams, Evolution and the Origins of Disease, pp. 459-465 Wilson, Sociobiology, pp. 409-415 Gould, Biological Potentiality vs. Biological Determinism, pp. 415-420 Paper Topics #2 and Paper Recommondations and Requirements **NOTICE: Paper #2 Due Monday, Nov. 5, by noon in my office mailbox (OSH 341) No Writing Assignment this week, but in-class projects will require familiarity with the assigned readings
Nov. 6	Freud: Introduction	Unless otherwise indicated, all readings for Freud are from The Freud Reader: Introduction, pp. xiii-xxx Anna O, pp. 60-78 Project for a Scientific Psychology, pp. 86-89 Recommended: Kathrina, pp. 79-86 Letters to Fleiss, pp. 111-116 Freud - Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (www.iep.utm.edu/f/freud.htm)
Nov. 8	Freud: the Unconscious	The Interpretation of Dreams, pp. 129-42 The Unconscious, pp. 572-84 Recommended: On Dreams, pp. 142-72 Writing Assignment #8: Briefly answer the following two questions about the assigned readings. First, Why are dreams so important to Freud and what use does he make of them in his account of the mind? Second, what reasons do we have for believing that the unconscious is a legitimate postulate of a science of the mind (since we can't observe it directly)?
Nov. 13	Freud: Cancelled class	Due to a scheduling conflict, this class meeting will be cancelled unless a guest presenter can be scheduled.
Nov. 15	Freud: Sexuality	Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, pp. 239-93 Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning, pp. 301-306 Recommended: Fragment of Analysis of a Case of Hysteria ("Dora"), pp. 172-239 Writing Assignment #9: In your own words, and briefly, what is Freud's basic theory of sexuality, and why is he interested in it as a psychological theoriest and therapist? Also, briefly describe what the two principles of mental functioning are and how they fit with Freud's theory of sexuality.
Nov. 20	Freud: Therapy	History of an Infantile Neurosis ("Wolf Man"), pp. 400-28 Recommended: Notes Upon a Case of Obsessional Neurosis ("Rat Man"). pp. 309-51 Fragment of Analysis of a Case of Hysteria ("Dora"), pp. 172-239 Other selections of interest from Part Three of the Freud Reader. Writing Assignment #10: In your own words summarize Freud's analysis of the "Wolf Man's" dream. What is the dream and what significance does Freud find in it. In your answer, you should be able to connect it to what we have already discussed in Freud's theory of the unconscious and sexuality.
Nov. 22	T-Day Break
Nov. 27	Freud: Mental Structure	Beyond the Pleasure Principle, pp. 594-626 Recommended: The Ego and the Id, pp. 628-60 Writing assignment due today, Tuesday. Writing Assignment #11: In this week's reading Freud gives a classic account of the tripartite sturcture and processes of the mind. In your own words, summarize the theory. What are the elements? How do they operate? And what is the evidence he gives for this theory?
Nov. 29	Freud: Cancelled class	Prof. will be out of town at a conference. Class meeting is cancelled, unless a guest presenter can be scheduled.
Dec. 4	Freud: Society	Civilization and Its Discontents, pp. 722-72 Recommended (on religion): Totem and Taboo, pp. 481-514 The Future of an Illusion, pp. 685-722
Dec. 6	Freud: Science and the Scientific World View	The Question of a Weltanschauung, pp. 783-93 The Assault on Freud? Time, Nov. 29, 1993 (pdf) Highly Recommended: Freud at 150, from MSNBC.com, (pdf) Interview with Eric Kandel: Freud and the Future of Neuroscience (pdf) Writing Assignment #12: This is a two part assignment. First, summarize the main argument presented by Freud in Civilization and Its Discontents. In particular, spell out how Freud's theory of the mind is applied to society at large? Second, Freud insists that psychoanalysis is a science. In what way is it a science, according to Freud? In your own view, is psychoanalysis a science? Draw on at least one point from the readings, assigned and recommended.
Dec. 12 (Wed.)	Final Paper (#3) Due	Paper #3 Topics with recommendations (pdf) Paper #3 Due by noon in my office mailbox (OSH 341).