Syllabus Fall 2012

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The Individual in Contemporary Society
1580 IDS 1133
Fall 2012
Davis 124
TTh 9:30-10:55
James Vaughn, Ph.D., and Jennifer Long, Ph.D.

Contact Info

Dr. Long Dr. Vaughn

Office                                      Troutt 317 219A Davis Hall
Telephone                                574-1217 574-1327
Email                                       jlong@usao.edu jvaughn@usao.edu
Office Hours MWF: 8:30-10:00 MW: 1:30-5:00
TTh: 8:00-9:00; 1:00-2:30 T: 3:00-5:00
by appointment by appointment

Course Description

This course offers an examination of what it means to be an individual in mass society, and how society affects the individual. Topics in this course include major theories of human nature, and issues and problems confronting the individual in society. We’ll be using the many academic disciplines—psychology, sociology, biology, economics, philosophy, and more—to ask big and important questions about human nature, human behavior, why we live together in societies, and the good and bad consequences of those societies.

The IDS Core Curriculum and ICS

ICS is part of USAO’s unique interdisciplinary Core Curriculum, and thus has a larger purpose apart from disseminating information about human behavior and social institutions. Indeed, the specific content itself will change from semester to semester and from section to section depending on the faculty team. The objectives of this—and all IDS courses—are larger, more complex, and much more significant. We aim to produce students who will learn and use the tools of critical thinking, enabling them to become good consumers, questioners, and analyzers of information; develop a life-long love of learning; and appreciate the value of multiple perspectives in understanding complex issues.

Because each IDS course shares these common goals, the Core Curriculum is an integrated whole. We encourage students to move through the Core in its prescribed order, from courses that deal with the Individual (this class), and then broaden into the Natural World, the Community and the Nation, and finally the World of Ideas. The Skills courses (writing, rhetoric, math) should be completed before the student moves on to sophomore-level IDS courses. For more information about the Core Curriculum, see the IDS webpage at www.usao.edu/usao-ids.

General Course Outline

I. Introduction to the Idea of Human Nature

· Ghost in the Machine, Noble Savage, Blank Slate

II. Human Nature + Science

· Theories of the Mind

· Cultural universals

· Neuroscience

· Behavioral genetics

· Evolutionary psych

III. Human Nature + Culture

· Culture a as a human creation

· Institutions

· the value of conformity and belonging

IV. Why does the idea of a human nature cause such a fuss?

· Do innate differences lead to inequalities?

· Does a human nature leave any room for social improvement?

· Is there free will? Are we responsible for our actions?

· Does life have purpose?

V. Why does human nature matter to us?

· Perception problems

· Intuition

· Moral Sense

· Society and politics

· Violence

· Gender

· Children

· The arts

Books

Pinker, Steven. The Blank Slate: the Modern Denial of Human Nature
Lehrer, Jonah. Proust Was a Neuroscientist
Other readings linked through the syllabus

Assignments

Exams

There will be a midterm and a final exam, each worth 100 points

Writings

Every Friday, students will post a writing assignment to the class turnitn.com discussion board. The posts should be from a half to a page in length, and should critically consider class readings, discussions, and lectures. There is no one way to write a post: you may agree with ideas, disagree with ideas, ask questions, offer answers, etc. Each post is worth up to 10 points; grades will be assigned based on depth of analysis, demonstrated grasp of the material, and clarity of writing.

In addition to the posts, each student is expected to respond to at least one five other posts during the course of the semester. The responses are worth up to 5 points each.

turnitin.com class id: 5395293
turnitin.com class password: Proust

The posts are due by midnight on the following dates:

August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12
week off for midterm and Fall Break
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
week off for Thanksgiving
November 30

Late assignments will not be accepted.

Grades

Midterm 100 points
Final 100 points
12 Writings 120 points
5 responses 25 points

Total possible 345 points

Tentative Course Schedule

T Aug 28 Introduction to the Class and Theories of Human Nature

Reading: “Lunch with Leon” (electronic reserve via Nash Library)

Th Aug 30 Theories of Human Nature

Readings: Pinker Chapters 1 and 2

T Sept 4 Science and Psych : Theories of the Mind

Readings: Pinker Chapters 3 and 5

Freud: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/freud.html

Lehrer Chapter 1

Read a few poems from Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" at Project Gutenberg

Th Sept 6 Science and Psych: Theories of the Mind

Readings: Pinker Chapters 3 and 5

Freud: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/freud.html

Lehrer Chapters 8

Read a little in Woolf's "To the Lighthouse" at adelaide.edu

T Sept 11 Science: Cultural Universals

Readings: Pinker Chapter 4

Language: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/langdev.html

Intelligence: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/intelligence.html

Lehrer Chapter 7

Th Sept 13 Science: Neuroscience

Readings: Pinker Chapters 3 and 5

Lehrer Chapter 4

T Sept 18 Science: Evolutionary Psych

Readings: Pinker Chapters 3 and 5

Evolution: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/humanevol.html

http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/primer.html

Th Sept 20 Science: Evolutionary Psych

Readings: Pinker Chapters 3 and 5

Evolution: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/humanevol.html

http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/primer.html

T Sept 25 Culture and Institutions

Readings: “Institutions” by Walter Neale. Electronic Reserve

Family: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/Cox.pdf

Th Sept 27 Culture and Conformity

Readings: Pinker Chapter 4

Conformity: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/socpsy.html

Opinions and Social Pressure. Electronic reserve.

T Oct 2 Problems: Differences?

Readings: Pinker Chapters 7 and 8

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/iku.html

Th Oct 4 Problems: Differences?

Readings: Pinker Chapters 7 and 8

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/iku.html

T Oct 9 Problems: Room for Improvement?

Readings: Pinker Chapter 9

Th Oct 11 Problems: Determinism or Free Will?

Readings: Pinker Chapter 10

"Determinism" at http://www.informationphilosopher.com/freedom/determinism.html

T Oct 16 MIDTERM EXAM

Th Oct 18 FALL BREAK

T Oct 23 Problems: Determinism or Free Will?

Readings: Pinker Chapter 10

"Determinism" at http://www.informationphilosopher.com/freedom/determinism.html

Th Oct 25 Problems: Does Life Have Meaning?

Readings: Pinker Chapter 11

An excerpt from Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" at PBS

T Oct 30 Problems: Perception

Readings: Pinker Chapters 12 and 13

Th Nov 1 Problems: Perception

Readings: Pinker Chapters 12 and 13

Lehrer Chapter 5

Browse some Cezanne pieces through Nash Library's ARTstor

T Nov 6 Problems: Survival and Biases

Readings: Pinker Chapter 14

Social Judgment: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/socpsy.html (select “Introduction”)

Cognitive Dissonance: ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Lehrer Chapter 3

Th Nov 8 Problems: Survival and Biases

Readings: Pinker Chapter 14

Social Judgment: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/socpsy.html (select “Introduction”)

Cognitive Dissonance: ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

T Nov 13 Problems: Moral Sense

Readings: Pinker Chapter 15 and 16

Th Nov 15 Problems: Violence

Readings: Pinker Chapter 17

T Nov 20 Problems: Gender

Readings: Pinker Chapter 18

Th Nov 22 THANKSGIVING BREAK

T Nov 27 Problems: Children

Readings: Pinker Chapter 19

"Three Laws of Behavior Genetics and What They Mean" via electronic reserve

Th Nov 29 The Arts

Readings: Pinker Chapter 20

Lehrer Chapter 6

Watch excerpts of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring ballet here

T Dec 4 The Arts

Readings: Pinker Chapter 20

Th Dec 6 Final, 10:00-11:30

Course Policies

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices

Cell phones and other beeping, chirping, singing, game-playing, text-messaging and noise-making electronic things must be turned OFF during class and kept out of sight. Because of the potential for distraction (for you and those sitting around you), laptops use is not allowed in class. (Exceptions can be made only in the case of a documented accommodation need. Please inform the instructors if this is the case).

We know you think that you can listen to lecture, check your Facebook, take notes, text your friends about where to meet for lunch, formulate intelligent questions, read your email, participate in class discussion and listen to your iPod all at the same time, but you can't. Lots of good research tells us that multitasking detracts from the learning experience and can actually make you dumber (see, for example, "The Myth of Multi-Tasking" at http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-myth-of-multitasking).

Be fully present in the classroom; treat class as a one hour refuge from all the other electronic demands in your life. You might find that all those pressing demands on your time—all those incoming texts, all the new Facebook statuses, all the waiting messages—really aren’t all that urgent. You might even find that the electronic silence gives you a calm space in which to really think and learn.

That said, if your cell phone or other beeping, chirping, singing, game-playing, text-messaging or noise-making electronic thing goes off in class, you will be asked to leave. If you're texting or emailing or checking your Facebook in class, you'll be asked to leave.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this or any other class on campus. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: Plagiarism (see page 22 of student handbook for definition); Fabrication (page 23); Cheating (page 23); Forgery and Altering Documents (page 23). All instances of dishonesty will be result in penalty without exception. The maximum penalty for the first offense is a grade of "F" for the course (page 23) and the incident will be reported to the Academic Vice President for inclusion in the student's permanent university file. A second and all subsequent offenses (in any course across the university) may result in the student's expulsion from the university. We're really not kidding about this. Don't cheat. We mean it.

ADA Statement

According to the ADA, each student with a disability is responsible for notifying the University of his/her disability and requesting accommodations. If you think you have a qualified disability and need classroom accommodations, contact the office of Student Services located on the third floor of the Student Center. Please advise the professor of your disability as soon as possible, to ensure timely implementation of appropriate accommodations. Faculty have an obligation to respond when they receive official notice of a disability from Student Services but are under no obligation to provide retroactive accommodations. To receive services, you must submit appropriate documentation and complete an intake process during which the existence of a qualified disability is verified and reasonable accommodations are identified. Call 405-574-1278 for more information.