Preliminary Syllabus
SCSU Spring 2010 1/25/10 – 5/22/10 Professor Pettigrew
PHI 200 02 W Problems in Philosophy 11:10am – 12:00am EN B210 EN D212, x26778
Office Hours: M 3:30-5, T 1-3 R 1-3:30
And by appointment

Syllabus
(Please note: I do not engage in email correspondence with students. All essential course information is outlined in the syllabus –which is distributed in class and available on the course-dedicated website—which includes the organization of the course into three phases, the respective readings in each phase, as well as the due dates of each of the assignments. The content of the course is addressed during class time. “Office hours,” are also an alternative for further discussion and clarification. All assignments are announced well in advance -- along with detailed instructions--of the due date.)

Our class will consider a number of the historical and contemporary aspects and concerns of “Philosophy.” We will focus particularly on the ethical dimensions of philosophic thought as we consider a number of catastrophic events. The catastrophic events that we will consider include The Holocaust, as well as war and genocide in Bosnia and Rwanda. We will read examples of  “witness literature” that address each of these catastrophic events. In addition, we will view and discuss a number of narrative films and documentaries about these events. The witness literature and the films will help situate us in the places of these human catastrophes: the lived dimensions of geographical locations. Witness literature accounts will weave a detailed and intimate tapestry of the lives and cultures that war criminals attempted to erase. Further, at the core of our introduction to philosophic discourse we will read and discuss several ethical theories, including Aristotle’s virtue-based ethics, Kant’s categorical imperative, and Levinas’ discourse on our responsibility for the other. Our class discussions and written assignments will consider whether, and the extent to which, any ethical thought can be appropriately applied to such catastrophic events. Can the rationality of ethics, based as it is on theories and their internal logic, apply to events that seem to exceed any rationality? Further, we will consider the extent to which the dehumanization of the other is related to, or leads to genocide. Our readings will consider the extent to which certain ethical theories as well as witness literature may be capable of interrupting dehumanization and thereby interrupting genocide.It is important to note that we will be weaving the three sources (ethical theory, witness literature, and films) together in our class discussions and in our written assignments.

Our course will unfold in three phases. During the first phase (1/25/10 -2/26/10) of the course we will focus on the Holocaust. We will view “Varian’s War,” read selected passages from Varian Fry's Surrender on Demand, and read Primo Levi’s Survival at Auschwit.We will also read selections from Aristotle’s Ethics, Book I Chapter 7 and Book II chapters 1 – 6.

In the second phase (3/1/10-4/02/10) of the course we will focus on the war and genocide in Bosnia 1992-1995. We will read selections from Elizabeth Neuffer’s The Key to My Neighbor’s House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda. We will view a feature film, “Welcome to Sarajevo”. We will also read Kant’s Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (The Preface, and Sections One and Two.).

In the third and final phase (4/05/10-5/12/10), we will focus on the genocide in Rwanda. We will read selections from Philip Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. We will also view the feature film “Hotel Rwanda”. We will read selections from Emmanuel Levinas’s Ethics and Infinity (Chps. 7 and 8).

(*Please note: The assigned readings of selected passages from Aristotle, Varian Fry, and Emmanuel Levinas will be provided in photocopied form.You are responsible for obtaining the other books, which are available for purchase in the book store, including Primo Levi's Survival at Auschwitz, Elizabeth Neuffer’s The Key to My Neighbor’s House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda, Kant’s Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals and Philip Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda.. If you obtain them by other means, please consult with me about the proper edition. In addition, You will be responsible for viewing the feature films " Welcome to Sarajevo", and "Hotel Rwanda" outside of class time, renting them from dvd/video outlets or purchasing the films. You may be able to borrow them from a library or from other students. The films are integral to our class discussions and written assignments. Do not wait until the last minute to try to find them.)

You are always required to have the assigned readings ***with you in class***. We will undertake a close, detailed (line-by-line) reading and analysis of selected passages in class. This will be the work that is at the core of the educational experience of the class. Many of these passages that we will discuss and interpret will be essential in your written assignments. The books are available for your purchase in the bookstore or in some cases will be provided in photocopied form. Nota Bene: The required readings for each phase are detailed above. Begin reading each of the required texts for each phase at the beginning of that phase. Bring both texts to class.

Course Website In addition to the above resources, I have developed a website to support your learning in the class. The website is entitled “Ethical Responses to Genocide” and the url is http://home.southernct.edu/~pettigrewd1/index.html. You will find a variety of bibliographic and web-based resources as well as images at the website on designated pages. In the course of the semester, as you research the genocides in Darfur, Armenia or Cambodia, you are encouraged to explore and use the site as well as to make suggestions for additional information and resources– based on your own discoveries—to be added to the website. All course information, including the syllabus, the written assignments, reading guides and other documents are posted on the website. Click on the above url and then click on my name located on the right of the screen. You will be directed to a page where you can click on information about our course.

COURSE WORK AND GRADING

GRADING

Grades will be based on 1.) Written assignments, 2) Student presentations, 3) The “Inquiry-based research Project” and 4) Punctuality and Attendance. Each activity (Written assignments, Presentation, and The Research Project) will be of equal value in the calculation of the final grade.

1) Written Assignments. Our class will involve six written academic assignments, with two written assignments in each phase of the class: a preliminary assignment followed by a culminating assignment. The culminating assignments will be approximately four to six pages in length, typed, and double-spaced, with standard scholarly reference to the text. Detailed information about the culminating written assignments will be posed on the course website within a few days of the beginning of the semester. Each assignment will be of equal value in the final calculation of your grade. Assignments must be completed by the announced due date. Any written assignment submitted past the stated deadline will receive a full grade deduction. The assignment is due at the beginning of class on the stated due date. Seven calendar days after the stated due date the assignment will no longer be accepted.
The final written assignment is due the day and time of the final exam: Wednesday May 19, 10:15 am to 12:15 pm and will not be accepted after that time.

As you may be aware, W courses involve the re-writing/revision of assignments in a variety of ways. In the first two phases of our course, the preliminary written assignment will be revisited, re-thought and revised as part of the culminating assignment of each phase.

Re-writing a paper for a better grade is not the only or the best reason for re-writing a paper. You need to make your best effort to accomplish the written assignment the first time that you write the assignment. If you are interested in re-writing a particular assignment in my class after you receive the grade there are several necessary steps. First, you need to discuss the paper with me during my office hours immediately after I return the paper to you. At that time we will discuss whether or not a “re-write” is appropriate for you and for the assignment in question. Second, if we decide that a re-write is appropriate then we will set specific educational objectives for your re-write. Third, the paper would need to be re-written and re-submitted with one week on a date that we specify. Under no circumstances can you re-write any paper or papers without going through the above process. Generally the grade on such rewritten or revised assignments will improve by half a letter grade (for example, a paper with a grade of C+ would generally improve to a B-).

In addition, students are encouraged to bring first drafts of any of the papers to me for my review during office hours.

Nota Bene: In written assignments students must cite their sources: extracting direct quotes or making indirect reference to a source both require references with page numbers. Quotes and indirect references for the written assignments must come from the assigned readings and films. No quotes or references from the internet will be permitted for written assignments during the semester. However, references from the internet will be allowed on your research assignment. Plagiarism is prohibited (see Student Handbook for discussion of “Prohibited Conduct”). Plagiarism may result in a grade of “F” for the paper and or a grade of “F” for the course. If you have any questions about these requirements or restrictions do not hesitate to ask questions in class or during office hours.

Written Assignment Schedule Details:

The first phase is scheduled to run from 1/25/10 -2/26/10, with a preliminary written assignment as well as a culminating written assignment. The phase one preliminary written assignment is due on February 19, and will address the case of Varian Fry. The culminating written assignment, analyzing Fry in terms of Aristotle's Ethics, will be due on March 1. Details concerning each of these assignments will be posted on the course website in a few days.

The second phase runs from 3/1/10-4/02/10, with a preliminary written assignment and a culminating written assignment. The phase two preliminary written assignment is due on March 17 and will focus on the historical conditions leading to the genocide such as are articulated in Neuffer, Chapter 1. The culminating written assignment will be due on April 5. Details concerning each of these assignments will be posted on the course website in a few days.

The third phase runs from April 5th through May 12th with a preliminary written assignment and a culminating written assignment. The phase three preliminary written assignment is due April 23, and will focus on the historical conditions leading to the genocide such as are articulated in Gourevitch Chapter 4.The culminating written assignment will be due on the date and time of the final exam: Wednesday, May 19, 10:15 am to 12:15 pm. Details concerning each of these assignments will be posted on the course website in a few days.

2) Readings in the Witness Literature and Class presentations. The following reading selections detailed below from the “witness literature” are required of each student. In addition, each student will make one individual presentation to the class (the presentation will be typed, approximately 2-3 pages in length, and thus six to eight minutes in duration) based on a reading from the witness literature to be assigned by the Professor. Students will make presentations based on sections (listed below) from our readings: Levi’s Survival at Auschwitz, Neuffer’s The Key to My Neighbor’s House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda, and Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Each presentation must include a) a discussion of the main ideas from the reading and the identification of instances of dehumanization in the text, b) citing and reading selected passages from the relevant text or appropriate resource, and c) reading and discussion of two questions composed by the presenter for class discussion. You will be assigned the chapter for your presentation sufficiently in advance for you to prepare your presentation. The entire presentation, including the two questions for discussion, must be typed and submitted on the day of the presentation.

First Phase: Required Readings and chapters for presentations: February 1, 3, 5, 2010
Primo Levi's Survival at Auschwitz
Chapter 1 “The Journey”
Chapter 2 “On the Bottom”
Chapter 3 “Initiation”
Chapter 4 “Ka-Be”
Chapter 9 “The Drowned and the Saved”
Chapter 11” The Canto of Ulysses”

Second Phase: Required Readings and chapters for possible presentations: March 8, 10, 12, 2010
Elizabeth Neuffer’s The Key to My Neighbor’s House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda,
Chapter 1 Blood Ties to Blood Feuds
Chapter 2 The Triumph of the Underworld
Chapter 3 Since Unhappily We Cannot Always Avoid Wars
Chapter 6 No Safe Havens
Chapter 9 Bring Me His Body
Chapter 15 Justice on the Ground

Third Phase: Required Readings and chapters for possible presentations: April 12, 14, 16, 2010
Philip Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Additional reading in the witness literature for First Phase of the class (note: this book will be at the core of the first written assignment.
Varian Fry’s Surrender on Demand (selected chapters to be announced)

3) Inquiry-based Research Project Assignment: Each student will develop an inquiry-based research project over the course of our five-week class. You can choose one of three topics: the genocide in Armenia, Cambodia or Darfur . The research assignment will have FIVE clearly delineated parts.

*The first part of the research assignment will identify the nature and dimension of the human catastrophe. The assignment will, to the greatest extent possible, provide information about the context in which the catastrophe has occurred, including the historical, cultural, political and religious details. This section must include direct reference to at least three sources including full reference and page numbers if the reference is a book or journal article with a footnote or bibliography page that is separate and distinct from the bibliography/research guide for the entire research project. (3 pages in length)

*The second part must include images and identifying text. The images must have identifying text as well as full reference of source cited directly beneath the image. (include at least five images with at least one map)

*The third part of the research assignment will discuss an ethical theory (you must select one of the three ethical theories that we have discussed in class) that could be applied to your analysis of the catastrophe. This will give you a good opportunity to revisit and rethink one of the three ethical theories. (two pages in length)

*The fourth part of the assignment will raise at least two questions for further research. (1 page)

*The fifth part of the assignment is a bibliography that lists research or educational resources for learning about the catastrophe in Darfur. These will include approximately five books in a bibliography, as well as websites, films, and other resources. You should be sensitive to the different kinds of “texts” whether historical accounts, eyewitness accounts, newspaper articles, films, etc. (a minimum of two pages in length). In this regard you are required to provide separate headings for “Books” “Journal Articles” “Newspapers” “Websites” “Films,” etc. You are allowed to include the course website as well as sources from the website in your bibliography.

The research assignment must be typed and double-spaced.

Note: Each of the above-listed required parts must be identified as such in a table of contents. In addition to a cover page for the entire research project there must be an identifying cover page provided for each of the five sections. Your report must be typed and double-spaced.

Our inquiry-based research assignment requires your abiding attention throughout the course. We will discuss and share information about this assignment throughout the semester in small group discussions. On February 26th, we will discuss the research project in class. On that day, please bring your preliminary bibliography to class as well as images, and be prepared to discuss your findings. The final complete Research Project is due in class on Wednesday May 12th. During our final exam period students will read/present sections of their research assignments to the class.

POLICY ON PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE

4) Attendance and Punctuality are Required. The learning culture of the class involves class dialogues that are indispensable to our engagement of the readings and the ideas they entail. One cannot miss the classes, for example, and then write a meaningful paper about the material. If you are involved in an activity that will make it difficult or inconvenient for you to attend the classes then you need to take a different class. Absences tardy arrivals and early departures will negatively affect your grade. Most students make a serious effort to participate in the class. Unfortunately, occasionally, for a variety of reasons, some students either do not understand or do not take the learning culture of our university or of our class seriously. For that reason I have developed a series of guidelines to encourage you to attend class. I state these attendance and punctuality guidelines here clearly for you. If you are more than 5 minutes late for any class, you will receive an L (Late). If you receive seven L's your grade will be reduced by a full letter grade. If you receive ten L’s your grade will be reduced by two full letter grades. If you are absent from class you will receive an "Abs" (Absent) designation. If you receive seven "Abs" your grade will be reduced by a full letter grade (for example from a B to a C). If you receive ten abs your grade will be reduced by two letter grades (for example from B to a D). If you receive 13 abs your grade will be reduced by three full letter grades (for example from a B to an F). If you leave class early (before the end of class) you will receive an “ED” (Early Departure). Four Early Departures (ED’s) will lower your grade by a full letter grade. Each of these categories can affect your grade. You can lose points for being late, for being absent and for departing early. These reductions will be applied to the final grade you receive on the basis of your written assignments, presentation and research assignments.

Please note: Since we do not have a final exam (we have a final paper), we are required to hold a class during the final exam time. Please be sure to plan to be present during the designated time for our final exam as we will undertake activities intrinsic to the integrity of our academic work. Absence from the final exam will be equivalent to three absences.

As a consequence of this attendance policy there are no medical, sports related or other allowable reasons for missing classes and no need for any documentation in this regard. The attendance policy then, values and respects the sanctity of the classroom, on the one hand, and your privacy, on the other hand. Attendance is required.

Policy on Email Correspondence Please be aware that I do not engage in email correspondence with students. All essential communications take place either in class or during office hours. Therefore there is no essential reason to use email. If you wish, you can email me to explain why you will not be in class or why you were not in class (see my attendance policy). If you have a question about the readings or the class discussions that you did not have the chance to ask in class you can send that question to me in an email and I will address your question in class or during office hours.

Policy on computer and cell phone use in the classroom The discussion of ideas and readings in our class requires your full attention. Your success as a student depends on attending class, focusing on the materials, and engaging in the ongoing discussions. You are not permitted to use a laptop during class to check your email or search the web. If you want to use your laptop to take notes you need my permission to do so. Cell phone use or use of a comparable device is not permitted during class (this includes calls and messaging).

Note: I believe in providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities on an individualized and flexible basis.  If you are a student with a documented disability, the University’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) determines appropriate accommodations through consultation with the student.  Before you may receive accommodations in this class, you will need to make an appointment with the Disability Resource Center, located in EN C-105A.  To speak with me about your approved accommodations or other concerns, such as medical emergencies or arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment as soon as possible. My office location and hours are listed at the top of the syllabus.”

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