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History of the Human Sciences (Top. Eur. Intell. Hist.)
HST 460/560 • Spring 2011

Richard H. Beyler
Telephone: 503.725.3996 • E-mail: r.beyler@pdx.edu • Webpage: web.pdx.edu/~drrb
Office: Cramer 441-O • Drop-in office hours Tue. 14:00-15:30; otherwise by appt.

Themes and Objectives.  In this course we examine the cultural, social, and political context of several intersecting themes in European philosophy and social theory from the Enlightenment to the present, including:

• attempts to define and develop the “human sciences” or “social sciences,” whether in emulation of or distinction from the natural sciences

• varying conceptions of the relation between the self and society

• faith in or rejection of the concept of progress

• ambivalence about the role of rationalization in modern history

Members of the class should expect to develop or improve their ability to:

• delineate major changes and continuities of human intellectual experience

• identify the historical origins and consequences of these changes and continuities

• find relevant information on and interpretations of these themes

• write about and discuss (describe, analyze, interpret, compare) these subjects in a critically and contextually informed way

Texts.  Much of the work for the class will revolve around reading primary source texts–that is, material written by the historical actors we are studying.  Many of these texts are in a virtual packet (VP) of material available through the internet.  I will post on-line a webpage with the respective links, and also circulate this information in class.  If there is demand, would be possible to make a hard copy of the excerpts for purchase.  Some of the primary texts are not available on-line, and the relevant books are available for purchase at the PSU Bookstore (and elsewhere):  .  There is a thus a course packet (CP) with a few excerpts available for purchase at Clean Copy (across Broadway from Cramer Hall).  In some cases, royalties were such that it made more sense to offer the books for purchase.  Copies should be available at the PSU Bookstore, and probably also elsewhere, including used copies.

Durkheim, Emile. Elementary Forms of [the] Religious Life. Trans. Joseph W. Swain. New York: Free Press, 1965; repr. Dover, 2008; French orig. 1915.
Note:  This is the most widely disseminated translation/edition.  Other translations are available, some with the “the” in the title and others without.  Any version will do, but please note that page numbers in different editions will not necessarily correspond to those given below.

Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Trans. Alan Sheridan. New York: Vintage, 1995; French orig. 1975.

Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents. Trans. James Strachey. New York: W. W. Norton, 1961; repr. 2008; German orig. 1930.

We will also read the following secondary texts–that is, books written by historians–available for purchase at the Bookstore (and elsewhere).

Adas, Michael. Machines as the Measure of Men: Science, Technology, and Ideologies of Western Dominance. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1989.

Burrow, J. W. The Crisis of Reason: European Thought 1848-1914. Yale Intellectual History of the West. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.

Schabas, Margaret. The Natural Origins of Economics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.

Requirements

Informally, the class requires active listening, critical reading, and thoughtful discussion.  Formally, undergraduates (registered for HST 460) should choose four from several assignment options, each of which counts 25% towards the final grade.  Proviso:  you must include at least one of the exams among your four options.  (You may, of course, do both.)  If you complete more than four assignments, then I will throw out the low score in computing your final grade.

1.  A mid-term exam, comprised of short answer, identification, and essay questions.

2.  A final exam, similar in format to the mid-term, concentrating on the second half of the term.

3.  Primary text reading journal based on the assigned primary texts.  Each entry should focus one of the primary text items listed in the syllabus, providing a brief summary of the piece and your response to it in the form of analysis, critique, questions, etc.  Each entry should be approximately 2 pp. (typed).  E-mail submissions are OK.  You should write at least six entries altogether.  There are more primary texts than that, so an element of choice is involved.  Entries for the respective excerpts are due on the dates indicated in the schedule.  Each due date you may submit as many entries you like, as long as you have at least six by the end of the term.  Late entries are not accepted.

4. A pair of response papers (both 4-5 pp.) based on one of our three secondary texts–Schabas, Burrow, and Adas.  Guiding questions will be provided.  A key part of the assignment will be placing the author’s argument in the context of our other readings, lectures, and discussions.  You must complete two papers from among the three possibilities to complete this assignment.  Respective due dates are weeks IV, VII, and X.

5.  A document study (8-10 pp.) which is a more extended response to one of the assigned primary texts.  Whereas a PTRJ entry is focused on the text itself, this assignment asks you to discover and analyze more of the context of your chosen work.  You should do some background reading which enables you to provide at least an initial response to one of the following questions:  1) What were the debates, questions, etc., which led the author to write this work, and what were the key intellectual resources used?  2) How was the work received at the time?  3) What are key ways in which this work be appropriated (or misappropriated) since the time it was written?  In other words, how has this particular text served as an intellectual resource for subsequent authors?  In effect, this assignment is a guided research paper, focused on the cultural history of one of our primary sources.  Before proceeding with this assignment, you must submit by Week VI a proposal of a working thesis (about a paragraph) and working bibliography (at least 4 items).  The final is paper is due at our last regular class session.

6.  A review essay of book (secondary text) relating to our theme.  A list of options will be provided.  Reference to comparative material, such as other works by the same author, other studies of the same subject by other authors, and/or reviews of the book, will be expected.  Before proceeding with this assignment, you must submit by Week VI a proposal stating your chosen book, with a preliminary summary of about a paragraph, and a working bibliography of background material (at least 4 items).  The assignment includes a proposal and progress interview.  Due at our last regular class meeting.

C/Pass option.  You can also choose to do only three assignments, one of which must be the final exam.  In this case, your maximum grade is a C+ (or Pass), the grading scale from A to C- is compressed from C+ to C-.  Please note that courses with Pass grades cannot be applied to the History major or minor.

Graduate students (HST 560) have a modified set of requirements; see the separate handout.

General policies

Prerequisites.  Upper-division standing (or approval of the instructor) is a prerequisite for HST 460; graduate standing (or approval of the instructor) is a prerequisite for HST 560.  Basic knowledge of modern European history is assumed, but there is not a formal course prerequisite.  Please consult the instructor if you have questions on this score.

There is not a formal attendance policy, since my experience suggests that regular attendance correlates strongly with success in the class in other respects.  If you know you are going to miss class I would appreciate your informing me in advance if possible; in any event, it is your responsibility to keep up with deadlines, handouts, etc.  This is particularly important given that 1) there is not a narrative textbook for the course; and 2) we meet only once a week, and have one holiday, which means that each absence means missing more than 10% of the course content.  If you must miss multiple meetings, you should consider withdrawing from the course.

I evaluate writing with respect to both “content” and “form,” so please pay attention to structure, word choice, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.  Use the standard mechanics:  state the assignment at the top of the paper, use one inch margins, double space (no extra space between paragraphs), number your pages.  Double-sided printing is OK, and in fact preferred if possible.  Staple your pages together–please don’t use “dog ears” or folders.

As always in academic writing, you must always cite your sources whenever you quote from, paraphrase, or summarize other authors’ work.  For the response papers, outside reading is neither required or expected.  It will be obvious from context what work you are referring to, and in that case a parenthetical page reference will suffice, like this (213).  Otherwise, please follow a standard academic citation style.  Chicago style is preferred, but MLA or APA is OK as long as you are consistent.

Papers may be submitted either in hard copy in class, or electronically as attachments sent to my e-mail address above.  To submit papers electronically:
            • Use Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF formats.  No other formats, please!
            • In your a paper with the same formatting as though you were turning in a hard copy.
            • Give your message a sensible, explanatory subject line.
            • In the body of your message, include (at least) your name at the
            • Name your file thus:  yourlastname assignmentabbreviation.format, e.g.:
                        Beyler PTRJ Condorcet.doc
If you submit a paper by e-mail, I will respond with a brief confirmation message.  (This may not be right away–sometimes it takes a day or so.)  If you don’t receive such a message, please check back with me.

For both hard copy and electronic submissions, it is always a good idea to keep a copy for yourself until after the end of the term.

I’m glad to discuss questions or issues from the class.  An appointment is not necessary for my drop-in office hours:  the policy is first come, first served.  I’m also available other times by appointment.  If we set up an appointment verbally, please also send me an e-mail message and get a confirmation from me.  I’m happy also to discuss issues via e-mail; however, please recognize that I’m not perpetually on-line and that it may take a day or so for me to see and/or respond to a message.

C/Pass option.  You can also choose to do only three assignments, one of which must be the final exam.  In this case, your maximum grade is a C+ (or Pass), the grading scale from A to C- is compressed from C+ to C-.  Please note that courses with Pass grades cannot be applied to the History major or minor.

If you find yourself needing to take an incomplete, submit a request in writing.  Please note PSU’s policies:  some work at the C level or above must have already been completed; unfinished incompletes turn to an F on the transcript after one year or upon graduation, whichever comes first.

Late papers are not accepted due to the “menu” system for assignments.

Tentative Schedule

The chapters in Schabas, Burrow, and Adas don’t necessarily follow the narrative I plan to follow in class.  Therefore the chapter numbers indicated are really only suggestions, intended to keep approximate pace with the flow of the course.  Generally, part of the class on Thursday will be devoted to discussion of the assigned primary texts for that week.  Come prepared to discuss them on those days.

VP= Virtual Packet.  PTRJ = Primary Text Reading Journal.  RP = Response Paper.

WEEK I, 29-31 MAR.  Introductions.  Enlightenment concepts of natural law and human nature.

Read:  Schabas, chaps. 1-3.  Adas, chap. 1.

WEEK II, 5-7 APR.  Paradoxes of law and freedom.  Idealism and the Romantic reaction to Enlightenment rationalism.

Read:  Schabas, chaps. 4-6.  Adas, chap. 2.  Condorcet in VP.
Due THU. 7 APR.:  PTRJ entry on Condorcet.

WEEK III, 12-14 APR.  Positivism.  Statistical causality, free will, and the normal.

Read:  Schabas, chap. 7-8.  Burrow, Prologue.  Comte, Buckle in VP.

WEEK IV, 19-21 APR.  Marxism.  The cultural context of evolutionary theory.

Read:  Burrow, chap. 1.  Adas, chap. 3.  Marx & Engels (2 items) in VP.
Due THU. 21 APR.:  PTRJ entries on Comte, Buckle, Marx & Engels.  RP on Schabas.

WEEK V, 26-28 APR.  Social Darwinism and notions of struggle, progress, and degeneration.  Global and social hierarchies.  Theories of magic, religion, and rationality (I).

Read Burrow, chap. 2.  Adas, chap. 4.  Tylor, Frazer in VP.

WEEK VI, 3-5 MAY.  Theories of magic, religion, and rationality (II).

Mid-term exam TUE. 3 MAY
Read:  Burrow, chap. 3-4.  Adas, chap. 5.  Durkheim, pp. 13-15, 21-33, 37-46, 51-65, 106-17, 462-96.
Due THU 5 MAY:  PTRJ entries on Tylor, Frazer, Durkheim.  Proposals for review essays, document studies.

WEEK VII, 10-12 MAY.  Social theorists confront modernity.

Read:  Burrow, chaps. 5-6.  LeBon, Weber (4 items) in VP.
Due THU 12 MAY:  RP on Burrow.

WEEK VIII, 17-19 MAY.  The psychoanalysis of civilization.  The rationalization of warfare.

Read:  Adas, chap. 6.  Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents.  Freud, LeBon in VP.
Due THU. 19 MAY:  PTRJ entries on LeBon, Weber, Freud.

WEEK IX, 24-26 MAY.  Logical empiricism a/k/a neo-positivism.  Structuralism.

Read:  Wittgenstein, Carnap et al., Saussure, Lévi-Strauss in VP.

WEEK X, 31 MAY-2 JUN.  The age of post-      (fill in the blank)     -isms.

Read:  Adas, Epilogue.  Foucault, pp. 3-23, 135-41, 171-224, 249-56, 304-7.
Due THU 2 JUN.:  PTRJ entries on Wittgenstein, Carnap et al., Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, Foucault.  RP on Adas.  Review essay.  Document study.

EXAM WEEK
Final exam THU. 9 JUN, 10:15-12:05 <<<<< NOTE THE TIME!

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