Teaching Assistant: Kristin Heyer (heyerkr@bc.edu)

Fall, 2001, Carney Hall 205; Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30-11:45

Office hours: Monday through Thursday 12:45-3 or by app’t (552-3892)

This is a two-semester, 12 credit course fulfilling all core requirements in philosophy and theology. Its contents include your activities in field projects as well as readings, classroom discussions, and conferences with the instructor. You may select your field involvement from the range of field projects sponsored by the Pulse Program. (Contact the Pulse Office, McElroy 117.)

The classroom and field project are intended to complement each other in leading students to reflect upon the meaning of their lives and the society they live in. In your field projects, you will undoubtedly encounter places, people and situations which will cause you to wonder about much that you had previously taken for granted. The focus of the class readings will be on the writings of men and women who have entertained similar questions. These experiences and readings will lead us to consider the capacities and limitations of our social, political and economic institutions for meeting the challenges of our day. They will raise questions as to what constitutes genuine love, justice, and human fulfillment. Through our discussions and readings, you will be engaged in the challenge of personal self-discovery and growth as they relate to the question of what it means to assume responsibility for personal and social problems.

1.) An evaluation of your field work by your field supervisor will count for 40% of your grade. The remainder is constituted by your academic performance, which can be broken down into:

2.) weekly journals (10%)

3.) midterm exam (30%)

4.) two reflection papers (three pages, typed, double spaced, relating readings and placements), graded on the basis of form and content (20% together)

5.) final exam on the readings (comprehensive, "objective" and essays) (30%)

6. classroom and discussion group participation (10%)
7. extra credit can be obtained by completing a five page book review of one of the recommended texts listed below and/or by attending one of the lectures mentioned below on the course schedule

Note: failure in either class or field placement constitutes a failure in the course.

Class Participation and Discussion Groups:

Initially we will be meeting as a whole class 2 times a week, and concentrating on the assigned readings. By the last week of September most of you will have a rough idea of your field placement, and we will begin meeting in smaller discussion groups.

From then on, in addition to the 2 regular meetings of the class as a whole your discussion group will also meet on a weekly basis. The discussion groups will focus on your project experiences or questions and reflections pertaining to the readings.

Regular Writing Assignments:

Each student must submit a weekly journal. Journal entries must be written and turned in to the instructor every week. They will be returned to you in your discussion groups. It is difficult to say precisely what a journal should be, because journals are very individual things. Some people take to them very spontaneously; but others find they "can't think of anything to write about."

Essentially journals tend to begin with detailed descriptions of people, situations, deeds, thoughts, or feelings which arise in connection with your project or class readings or discussions. However, your journal topics need not be limited to these areas, and may range to touch upon any subject you desire. After detailed description, your journal should move on to "reflection" on what you've described. Such reflections should move in directions suggested by class readings and discussions. They should draw upon class readings, lectures and/or discussions to illuminate and criticize the concrete occurrences described in the detailed descriptions. From time to time, you may also be given a "special" reflection topic, assigned by the instructor.

1. Virginia Axline, Dibbs: In Search of Self (Mass Market Paperback)
2. Jonathan Kozol, Rachel and Her Children (Fawcett Columbine)
3. John Hargreaves, A Guide to Genesis (SPCK)
4. John Barton, Ethics and the Old Testament (Trinity)

5.) Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin)

6.) Plato, Gorgias (Hackett)

7.) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, trans. Ostwald (Bobbs Merrill)

8.) Abraham Heschel, The Prophets (Harpercollins)

6. The Catholic Study Bible (Oxford) (this version of the Bible is required)
7. Raymond E. Brown, A Coming Christ in Advent (Liturgical Press)

10.) Epictetus, Enchiridion (Promethean Press)

1.) Robert C. Tannehill, Luke (Abingdon)

2.) E. P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus (Penguin)

3.) Ellen Frankel Paul. et al., eds., Human Flourishing (Cambridge)

4.) C. C. W. Taylor et al., Greek Philosophers (Oxford University Press)

1. T. Grady and P. Huston, eds., Signatures of Grace (A Dutton Book)
2. Gerard J. Hughes, Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Aristotle on Ethics (Routledge)

Note: both required and recommended texts are available at the O'Neill library reserve desk and at the bookstore

Please keep in mind that these assignments reflect the fact that students earn six credits from each semester of PULSE, which makes it the equivalent of two courses

Week 1, Sept 6: Axline, Dibbs

Week 2, Sept. 11 and 13: Kozol, Rachel and her Children

Week 3, Sept. 18 and 20: The Catholic Study Bible: Reader’s Guide (hereafter "RG") 1-12, 16-54, 74-84

Week 4, Sept. 25 and 27: The Book of Exodus, chapters 19-24; II Samuel, chs. 11-12; Barton, chapters 1-2, 5

Week 5, Oct. 2 and 4: RG pp. 354-358; The Book of Hosea (pp. 1109-1121); RG pp. 361-366; The Book of Amos (pp. 1126-1135); Heschel, pp. ix-60

*Extra credit: attend Oct 4 panel on "The Ethics of Stem Cell Research" in Fulton Hall 250, 5-6:30 p.m.

Week 6, Oct. 9 and 11: RG pp. 56-66; The Book of Genesis, chapters 1-4; Hargreaves, pp. 1-50

Week 7: October 16, catch-up class discussion; *Oct 18 mid-term exam

Week 8, Oct. 23 and 25: The Last Days of Socrates, pp. ix—xxxi; Plato, The Apology (pp. 31-67); Plato, Gorgias, pp. ix-30

Week 9, Oct. 30 and Nov. 1: Gorgias

*Extra credit: attend Dr. Felix Wilfrid, "Religious Pluralism and the Church in India," 7:30-9 on Monday Nov 5, Gasson 305

Week 10, Nov. 6 and 8: Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Book I, Book II, 1-6; Book III

*Extra credit: attend lecture, Nicholas Lash, "Road Signs: Reflections on the Christian Doctrine of God," on Tuesday Nov 9, 7-8:30, Merkert 127

Week 11, Nov. 13 and 15: Aristotle, NE, Book VII, 1-10; Books VIII-IX; Aristotle, The Politics (photocopied selections to be distributed in class)

Week 12, Nov. 20: Epictetus, Enchiridion; Nov 22: Thanksgiving

Week 13, Nov 27 and 29: The Catholic Study Bible: RG pp. 386-390; RG pp. 417-437; The Gospel according to Luke, Introduction and chapters 1-2 (pp. 95-103); Brown, The Coming Christ in Advent

Week 14, Dec. 4 and 6: The Gospel according to Luke, chapters 3-5

**Final examination, place and time to be announced