Patrick Byrne

PERSON AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fall 2001
PL 088/TH088, Section 05:
Patrick Byrne, Instructor Office: Carney 216
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 and Thursdays, 12:00-1:00, And by appointment!!!

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 human fulfillment, genuine happiness. 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 social problems.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:An evaluation of your field work by your field supervisor will count for 40% of your grade. (N.B.: If you have difficulty being placed in your field project, you must speak with me.) The remaining 60% will be based on the midterm and final exams on the readings, classroom and discussion group participation, and the content of your regular written assignments. These will include (A) four (4) short papers, and (B) additional assignments contributing to your year-long project of Institutional Analysis. Failure in EITHER class OR field placement constitutes a failure in this course.

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND DISCUSSION GROUPS Initially we will be meeting as a whole class twice a week, concentrating on the assigned readings. We will begin meeting in smaller discussion groups (officially designated "PL 080, sections 09 & 10) the week of September 10. Discussion group times are as follows: Tuesdays, 12:00-12:50 (PL080, section 09, Carney Hall 307) or Wednesdays, 11:00-11:50 (PL080, section 10, Carney Hall 307)

From then on, in addition to the three regular meetings of the class as a whole (TTh 10:30), your discussion group will also meet on a weekly basis. The discussion groups will focus on your project experiences, questions and reflections pertaining to the readings, and periodic assignments. The Assignment for the week of September 11 is Rachel Remen, "In the Service of Life" (Photocopied material to be distributed). (N.B. If you find it difficult to speak up in a group setting, please see me.)

REGULAR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (A) Each student must submit four (4) short papers. of 4-5 pages each. Each paper should have two parts--PART I: take a theme or idea from the class readings and explain it. What did the author mean? What was his/her approach, method? etc. Then, PART II: apply the idea or theme to some issue, event, etc. that happened at your field placement. (Your other life experiences are also welcome here.) [You will be evaluated both for the accuracy of PART I, and the creativity, insightfulness, and seriousness of PART II.] These papers are due on the following dates: September 20, October 11, November 8, and November 29.

(B) In addition, everyone must complete regular, assigned installments on her or his "Institutional Analysis." An important part of this course consists in understanding the ways in which we are social creatures, what benefits we inherit from our social memberships, what responsibilities we have to society and history, what ills betrouble social groups, and how social institutions function to promote or inhibit the realization of a just society. The Institutional Analysis assignment for this course is designed to help you begin to think concretely about these issues. It will help you understand and explore them through the lens of the agency you volunteer for. Instructions for composing institutional analysis are available on a separate sheet.

Course Calendar and Reading List (Fall, 2001)

September 3-10 Introduction , Axline, Dibs: In Search of Self; Carter, "Insufficiency of Honesty"

September 17-24 Plato, Gorgias; Lonergan: "Beliefs" (Photocopied, to be distributed)

October 1-15 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethic

October 18 MIDTERM EXA

October 22 Eliade, The Sacred and the Profan

October 29 Parks, "Meaning and Faith"; Lonergan: "Religion"

November 5 - 12 Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, Chapters 1 - 6; Lonergan, "The Question of God"

November 19 - 26 Haughton, The Transformation of Man, Chapters 1 - 3

December 3 St. Augustine,Confessions

Midterm exam: In-class, written exam, Thursday, October 18

Final exam: Written Exam, Thursday, December 20, 9:00am

Second Semester

This semester continues our inquiry into the meaning of being human. Now, however, our point of view will shift to the relationships between human fulfillment and social institutions

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: As was the case last semester, an evaluation of your field work by your field supervisor will count for 40% of your grade. The remaining 60% will be based on (1) the midterm (March 14) and final (May 6) exams on the readings, (2) classroom and discussion group participation, and (3) the content of your Writing Assignments. This semester, your writing assignment will include entries in the Institutional Analysis of your field placement. Failure in either class or field placement constitutes a failure in the course

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND DISCUSSION GROUPS: Discussion Group meetings will begin the week of January 14. Discussion group times are as follows: Tuesdays, 12:00-12:50 (Carney 307) and Wednesdays, 11:00-11:50 (Carney 307) The discussion groups will focus on your project experiences or questions, your Institutional Analysis, and reflections pertaining to the readings. If you need to switch your discussion group, please tell me

REGULAR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: (A) Each student must submit three (3) short papers. of 4-5 pages each. Each paper should have two parts--PART I: take a theme or idea from the class readings and explain it. What did the author mean? What was his/her approach, method? etc. Then, PART II: apply the idea or theme to some issue, event, etc. which happened at your field placement. (Your other life experiences are also welcome here.) [You will be evaluated both for the accuracy of PART I, and the creativity, insightfulness, and seriousness of PART II.] These papers are due on the following dates: February 12, March 21, and April 18.

Each student will be expected to prepare an Institutional Analysis of his or her field placement, following the guidelines provided. Components of these analyses are to be completed during the semester, by the assigned dates. These analyses are to follow the format distributed, and are to be typed. Some will be assigned for presentation in Discussion Groups. If two or more students volunteer at the same placement, they may collaborate and make a group presentation, with notes clearly indicating who has been responsible for which part of the preparation (greater detail will be expected of group projects).

Course Calendar and Reading List (Spring, 2002)

Justice, The Common Good, Law and Rights What Good is a City?

January 14 Welcome Back; Institutional Analysis Video: "New York City: Episode 7, 1945 to the Present"

January 16 Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Chs. 1-6

January 21 Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Chs. 7-22

January 28 Locke, Second Treatise, Chapters I-V, VII (87-94), VIII (95-99)

February 4 The Common Good vs. Individual Rights: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book V

M. L. King, Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (Xeroxed)

February 11 Bethke-Elshtain,Democracy on Trial

February 19 Bellah, et. al., "The House Divided" (Introduction to the updated edition of Habits of the Heart)

Baird, "Conversations about Distributive Justice"

Called to Community by God

February 26 The Catholic Study Bible, pp. RG1-RG56, RG287- RG292, RG354-358, RG361-366, RG386 - 405 Bible: Books of Deuteronomy , 5:1-10:21, 26:1-11, 30:15-20,Genesis 1-5, 12, 15-17, 21-22, Exodus 1:1-24:18, 32:1-34:35, 40:1-38

March 4 Spring Vacation (No Classes)

Thursday, March 14: Mid-term Exam !!

Injustice, Prophecy, Organized Religion, and Church

March 11-18 Haughton, "Release of Power," Transformation of Man, Chapter

Hosea, Daniel Chs. 7 & 12; Isaiah 1:1-31, 2:1-5; 6:1-8:10, 8:23-12:6, 42:1-9; 48:1-21, 49:1-26; 52:13-53:12

March 25-April 1 Gospel According to Matthew; Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, Chapters 7, 8 & 9

Haughton, Ch. 8

April 8-15 Justice & Rights: Civil and Prophetic

Armstrong, "The Prophet" and "Glossary" from Islam a Short History

Cone, Martin and Malcolm: American Dream or Nightmare?

April 22-29 Jean Heffernan: "Autonomy and Authority Preserved: The State, Civil Society, and the Individual in Catholic Social Thought; Pope John XIII, Peace on Earth

Final exam: Written exam, Monday, May 6, 9:00am

PULSE Program

Patrick Byrne