C&C 501 Syllabus

Posted on Friday, January 5th, 2007 at 1:53 pm

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Christianity and Culture 501 Knox Theological Seminary
Dr. Samuel Lamerson Spring 2007
Class 6:10-9:00 P.M. Mondays
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The Effects of Sin on the Soul & on Culture

This course continues the “Great Conversationâ€? of the Western Tradition in antiquity by focusing on the nature of the soul: the effects of sin and the possibility of redemption.  We will introduce the literary genre theory of the soul, first articulated by Aristotle in the Poetics.  We will explore the terrain of tragedy as an outworking of the fall.  We also consider comedy as reflecting the possibility of redemption.  Augustine’s vision of the soul and its redemption will be noted in his Confessions.  We will deepen our familiarity with Plato through the Apology of Socrates in order to consider the role of the philosopher in the project of civic redemption.  The greatest attention, however, will be given to Aristotle’s discussion of the nature of the soul in the Ethics, and the cure of the soul, discussed in the Politics.

Texts to purchase:

The Bible, New American Standard (please always bring your Bible to class)

Augustine’s Confessions

Aristotle’s Poetics

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle’s Politics

Aristotle’s Rhetoric

4 Texts on Socrates

Greek Tragedies Volume 1

Greek Tragedies Volume 3

Requirements and Grading:

The student will be asked to keep precise records of all reading assignments and their dates of completion.  Assignments read before class will be given full credit.  Assignments read after class discussion will be given half credit.  At the end of the semester, the student will be asked to provide the professor with a percentage of all reading completed as assigned for the semester.  All readings will be based on the honor system. The final comprehensive reading completion number will count 50% of the student’s grade.  A comprehensive final examination will constitute the remaining 50%. 

All excused absences (as permitted in the catalogue) are given with the understanding that the video/audio tape of the class missed will be reviewed prior to the next class period.  A written report that the class has been reviewed on tape is required before the next scheduled class. 

The student is also advised that for graduation from the MACC program, the catalogue requires proof of attendance at one of the Reclaiming America conferences held annually at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.  Please contact the Center at 954 968 6729.  Mention that you are a student at Knox Seminary for all applicable student discounts.

Schedule of Readings:

N.B.  The introductory essay by Louise Cowan and the Prometheus by Aeschylus should be read before the first class.

The_Comic_Terrain.pdf

1. Louise Cowan’s “The Terrain of Comedy� (Handout); Aeschylus’s Prometheus
2. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King; Aristotle’s Poetics
3. Aristophanes’ Clouds; Plato’s Apology
4. Euripedes’ Hippolytus and The Bacchae
5. Aristotle’s Ethics, Books 1-4
6. Aristotle’s Ethics, Books 5-7
7. Aristotle’s Ethics, Books 8-10
8. Aristotle’s Politics, Books 1-3
9. Aristotle’s Politics, Books 6-8
10. Aristotle’s Rhetoric, Chapter 1.1-1.8; Chapter 3.1-3.19
11. Augustine’s Confessions, Books 1-5
12. Augustine’s Confessions, Books 6-10
13. Augustine’s Confessions, Books 11-13