Honors Courses Spring 2004
HN199-01: Inquiries into the Human Condition II (4)
Watts, William
MWF 10-10:50
The second semester of a year-long sequence, this course examines the treatment of the human condition in significant texts of the Western tradition from the Renaissance to the modern periods. Texts for the course will come from the disciplines of literature, philosophy, and history, and will include works by Thomas Hobbes, Jane Austen, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, T. S. Eliot, and Zora Neale Hurston. The course will emphasize questions about the nature of the individual soul, as well as the relationship of the individual to family, friends, community and state. Completion of this course will fulfill the requirements for ID103. Completion of HN198 and HN199 together will satisfy the requirements to EN102, ID103, and HN100.
HN199-02: Inquiries into the Human Condition II (4)
Glennan, Stuart
MWF 9-9:50
The second semester of a year-long sequence, this course examines the treatment of the human condition in significant texts of the Western tradition from the Renaissance to the modern periods. Texts for the course will come from the disciplines of literature, philosophy, and history, and will include works by Thomas Hobbes, Jane Austen, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, T. S. Eliot, and Zora Neale Hurston. The course will emphasize questions about the nature of the individual soul, as well as the relationship of the individual to family, friends, community and state. Completion of this course will fulfill the requirements for ID103. Completion of HN198 and HN199 together will satisfy the requirements to EN102, ID103, and HN100.
HN200 02: The Gothic Cathedral (2)
Watt, Jim
MW 1-2
Rheims, Chartres, Paris, Canterbury, Salisbury, York, Cologne, Vienna, Burgos, Seville, Prague, and Milan are some of the cities graced by these structures of extraordinary beauty and spiritual experience of them. The task will involve individual “pilgrimages” to various Gothic churches to collect ideas for our own, collective, design and “construction” of a cathedral church at an imaginary site in England near the border with Wales. The course, like reality itself, consists in equal parts of research and role playing.
HN200 50: Star Trek (2)
Mannering, Michelle
T 4:15-6:15
Gene Roddenberry called Star Trek, his phenomenal creation for television, “Wagon Train to the Stars.” That description aptly reflects a classic American story of challenges met and overcome, a theme that permeated 1950s America, the early years of the Cold War, and the early episodes of Star Trek. By 1968, however, Star Trek episodes had begun to mirror opposition to the Vietnam War and social turmoil of the 1960s. Hence, the television series has become a vehicle through which to examine American society during the Cold War years. In this course students will use a variety of media to explore the American experience in the post-World War II era.
HN 200 52: Carmen (2)
Aji, Aron
T 4-6
Literature, Music, Opera, Film, Dance, Theatre, the Visual Arts, and seven amazing instructors: Aron Aji (English and World Literature professor), John Turner (our new and the very first Tenure-Track Art History prof at Butler), Richard Aulden-Clark (our new Symphony conductor), Michelle Jarvis (Dance chair), Patty Harvey (Indianapolis Opera educational director), Linda Willem (Spanish, and film expert) and John Green (Theatre chair). Experience George Bizet’s masterwork, Carmen, from seven different artistic perspectives. We will study the original story that inspired the opera, learn about the visual arts and music that influence the composer, and explore the adaptations of this great story into movement, film, and theatre. Students will experience live performances, and produce a collaborative and creative project.
HN300 01: Tao and Chemistry (2)
Su, Meng-Chih
T 1-3
Bridging over ancient oriental philosophy and modern science, this course challenges the student to think about science (and chemistry, in particular) through the understanding of humanity, and vice versa. It explores the creativity and motivation behind the development of science, i.e., how and why sciences are formed. The course will explore the oriental philosophies and their implication to the fundamentals of science. The student will be guided to build connections between humanity and science subjects and, hopefully, will develop more insightful understanding in both areas. Some science background is preferred but not required. One semester of C&T on the China Unit is highly recommended.
HN300-02: Issues in Dress (2)
Meaden, Wendy
M 2-4
This course will examine the role of clothes in creating individual and cultural identity through readings, observations, and research. Fashion, anti-fashion, gender, religion, and culture heritage are avenues of exploration in the daily saga “What should I wear today?”
HN300 03: Wings For Our Dreams – The First 100 Years of Powered Flight (2)
Stark, Eric
W 2-4
2003 marks the centennial of the Wright brothers' first successful powered flight experiments at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the century that followed, the rapid pace of new achievements in aviation has astounded the world and changed our lives. This course will examine not only the history of these astounding developments, but also the dreams of the men and women that made them possible. From Orville and Wilbur Wright and Antoine de Saint Exupery to Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, Neil Armstrong, Burt Rutan and Patty Wagstaff, we will examine the extraordinary confluence of human dreams and technological advancement that has made these achievements possible.
HN300 04: The Ethics of War and Peace (2)
van der Linden, Harry
T 3-4:40
This course will focus on two normative approaches to war: just war theory and pacifism. Conditions for justly starting and executing war will be explored on the basis of case studies, such as the bombing of Hiroshima, the Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War. Special attention will be paid to humanitarian intervention and terrorism. Other topics include the ethics of economic sanctions and the development of space weapons. In conclusion, we will examine the philosophy of nonviolence, antiwar pacifism, and building peace through the strengthening of international institutions and law.
HN 300 05: The Mythology and Biology of Elephants (2)
Dale, Robert
W 2-4
The African elephant is the largest living land animal, followed in size by its relatively petite Asian “cousin,” the latter weighing only 5-6 tons. These animals have only one predator: Man. African and Asian elephants are admired for their size and strength, coveted for their ivory and appreciated for their wisdom and complex social lives. We will examine them from a variety of perspectives: to show what we know about elephants, and what they can tell us about ourselves.
HN 300 06: The Psychology of Sport (2)
Padgett, Robert
M 2-3:45
In this course we will look at how factors like arousal, motivation, anxiety, and social support influences an individual’s athletic performance, response to success, failure and injury. We’ll look at how the application of psychology can make you a better athlete, or just a better fan. No previous psychology experience required, but you have to like sports…
HN 300 51: The Olympics and Paralympics (2)
Scott, Eugenia
W 4:15-6
This course will give students the opportunity to historically, politically, and philosophically look at the origins, people, and ideals that have made the Olympics and Paralympics both realities and powerful forces in the modern world. The course will integrate photography, technology, ethics, and morals, as well as issues of minorities, women, and the disabled. Former Olympians and Paralympians are expected to speak. The highlight of the course will be a spring break trip to Athens, the site of the 2004 summer Olympics and Paralympics.
HN300 52: Hands-On Spirituality (2)
Saffire, Paula
M 6-8:30
A hands-on exploration of spiritual practices that involve the body. Practices will include: dervish whirling, tai chi, hatha yoga, walking mediation, foot washing, Thai medicinal massage, and mandala drawing. This is a spiritual lab course. Experience comes first; readings are for the sake of enhancing experience.
Requirements:
- open-mindedness, respect for others,
- a desire for experience,
- some self-discipline, and
- some courage.
Consult your instructor if you have (a) and (b) and want to ask about (c) and (d). Some information about the course will be posted on the door of JD374D. Please read before your sign up.
HN352 01: Honors Tutorial: Religion and Law, At Home and Abroad
In 2003-2004, HN 352-01 is devoted to Religion and Law at Home and Abroad. Subtopics include the role of religion in American public life and public schools, capital punishment and other moral issues involving the penal system, the place of religious law in the modern world, religion and human rights in the Islamic world, and the spiritual challenges of law as a vocation.
This is a year-long tutorial with activities and requirements spanning both semesters. Students register for HN 352 in either Fall 2003 or Spring 2004 but must participate in the activities of the tutorial during both semesters. Credit is awarded at the end of the academic year.
Requirements include attendance at four Tuesday evening public seminars, three Saturday morning workshops and occasional discussion meetings. Students registering for HN 352-01 should avoid conflicts on Tuesdays after 5:30 p.m.
HN352 02: Honors Independent Study (1)
The tutorials offer the opportunity to examine further a topic previously studied in an honors seminar or colloquium. The student works one-on-one with a faculty mentor in designing and completing an extended term project. Contact the instructor and the Honors Office (JH133) to register by blue card.
HN397 01: Honors Thesis Proposal (1)
Required of all honors students qualified to work on their honors thesis, the independent study allows the student and his/her thesis advisor to conduct preliminary research and produce the honors thesis proposal. Consult prospective thesis advisor to determine the number of credit hours. Contact the Honors Office (JH133) for a blue card.
HN398 01: Honors Thesis Proposal (2)
Required of all honors students qualified to work on their honors thesis, the independent study allows the student and his/her thesis advisor to conduct preliminary research and produce the honors thesis proposal. Consult prospective thesis advisor to determine the number of credit hours. Contact the Honors Office (JH133) for a blue card.