MALA 6050.2 "Enlightenment Now"-summer 2021.
LISTEN-Miscellaneous thoughts on our course, navigating this blogsite etc.; Enlightenment Now (my introduction)...
Zooming on Tuesdays at 6 (beginning May 18), flexibly. (We're officially listed for TTh 6-7:45, but we'll plan to zoom together once a week and reserve Thursdays for office hours and impromptu meetings at your request. Zoom & other contact info to be announced [via email].
Course requirements:
- Post at least two questions for discussion (pertaining to the week's assigned texts) on this site each week prior to class, and join the discussion on zoom.
- Respond with a short essay (at least a couple of paragraphs) to at least one discussion question (yours or mine or a classmate's) each week prior to class.
- Present a report and final blog post on a relevant topic. (Details tba)
TEXTS:
- The Enlightenment: A Very Short Introduction (VSI)
- Why Grow Up: Subversive Thoughts for an Infantile Age (WGU)
- Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress (EN)
- The Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790
- The Enlightenment: And Why it Still Matters
- The Secular Enlightenment
- The Dream of Enlightenment: the rise of modern philosophy
- Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil
- "In Our Time" podcast on Enlightenment (BBC)
- Philosophy Bites podcast
- [Share your suggestions]
May
18 - Introductions. Who are you? Why are you here? What does "enlightenment" mean to you? Post your thoughts in the comments space below.
25 - VSI, -p.66. Immanuel Kant, What is Enlightenment?
June
1 - VSI, -p.130
8 - WGU, Part 1 - What is Enlightenment?
14 - WGU, Part 2 - Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence. UPDATE: Zooming on Monday this week.
22 - WGU, Part 3 - Becoming Adult
29 - EN, ch 1-7 (-p.79) Sapere aude, Dare to understand...
July
6 - EN, ch 8-11 (-p.166) - Inequality, Environment... Assign final report topics (you may select your own, related to anything discussed in our (req. or rec.) texts.
13 - EN, ch 12-17 (-p.261) - Terrorism, Democracy... UPDATE: Professor Daryl Hale will pinch-hit for me, while I'm at my conference in Kansas. Ask him any questions you have, he's an expert on Enlightenment (especially on Kant's philosophy). No zoom tonight, I'm traveling to a conference in Kansas.
20 - EN, ch 18-20 (-p.345) - Happiness, Existential Threats...
27 - EN, Part III (ch 21-23) - Reason, Science, Humanism - Final report presentations begin.
August
3 - Final report presentations conclude. Final report blogposts due.
jpo
(Dr. Oliver)
Phil.Oliver@mtsu.edu
I like the lighter side of thinking, I invite you all to share this sort of thing. Humor, said William James, is just common sense dancing. (I also invite you to share whatever else you think is pertinent, including quotes you like--see "Enlightened thoughts" in the right sidebar).
But seriously, "enlightenment" in the western philosophical sense is not about finding a know-it-all guru, nor is it about just sitting and meditating or ruminating in solitude and silence.
It's about conversation, dialogue, the exchange of views and perspectives, listening, thinking collaboratively... it's about co-philosophizing (see the masthead quote above).
Hi class! My name is Natalia Jiron, but I go by Nat. This summer will be my 3rd full semester in the MALA program at MTSU. I will be graduating in December 2021!! Even though the 6050 class is a requirement for the MALA program, I decided to take it this summer since I took a block with Professor Oliver this past semester. The theme, Conversational Nature of Philosophy, interested me, and I enjoyed the thoughts that Professor Oliver had towards "the search for wisdom".
ReplyDeleteWhat does enlightenment mean to me? Prior to reading the article, What is Enlightenment?, enlightenment to me means having or developing an understanding or knowledge of something. When I read the article, the first line described enlightenment: "man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity" (Kant, pg. 1). Further, to me, enlightenment can mean developing your OWN understanding of ideas and exploring more without the help from others.
I look forward to having class with everyone this summer :)
Nat, when reading the article, I found that the emergence from immaturity was something that I had never thought about, but it made perfect sense. I also love how you highlighted that enlightenment is not cookie-cutter. Everyones' ideas will be different, and that is its beauty, along with the exploration to further develop the understanding of individual ideas.
DeleteThanks for going first, Nat.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the communication-themed class, I did too. Conversation, dialogue, the exchange of perspectives and views is what philosophy is all about. Mutual respect and toleration (if not celebration) of difference is a bedrock Enlightenment value.
You've already read Kant's famous essay, that's impressive! And he's right, I think: to see the light is to embrace all the ages of life, and thus to accept the responsibilities of adulthood which include (above all) the responsibility of thinking for oneself. "Sapere Aude - that is the motto of Enlightenment"
Hello everyone! My name is Kelly Bond, I like to think of myself as a someone that is a lifelong learner and ambivert. I will be graduating in the spring of 2022.
ReplyDeleteI am here to further my knowledge of what enlightenment truly is vs. what I learned in high school. I had Dr. Oliver this past semester, and it was just enough to pique my curiosity.
Philosophy is engaging in deep thinking and conversations with peers on intriguing topics that are not entirely understood. The discussions and reflection assist in building an understanding of the topic of choice. As Kant said, you must have the courage to use your own understanding (Kant 1).
I have never previously explored philosophy independently, but the short block in the spring introduced me to David Whyte, which clicked with me.
My Philosophy is to make the world a kinder place by doing everything inclusively and with integrity. I look forward to working with everyone over the summer!
Kelly, I'm glad you resonated to David Whyte,a philosopher-poet whose facility with words points to an intriguing internal tension in philosophy: there are limits to what can be said, but at least in the western philosophical tradition you can't philosophize without trying to SAY what you mean. The best philosophers, though, are aware of the tension and paradox. The "fire their volley of vocables," as Wm James said, because that's their job. But if they're honest, they know the volley may not land in the right place. And that's okay, so long as we're aware.
DeleteI agree, Dr. Oliver. Even philosophers have their limits, but the critical point is to have awareness and hunger to further what knowledge one currently holds.
DeleteKelly,
DeleteI am so glad we are taking another class together again! After reading, What is enlightenment?", I really like how Kant states for us to have the courage to use our own understanding. When I thought about this further, it makes me think about forming my own opinions and exploring ideas.
Also, there were some great articles last semester from Whyte last semester :)
I was quite impressed with that class which is why I am so excited to take this one with you! Kant's essay has so many great ideas in it. It really helped me understand the concept of enlightenment. I like how he uses "Sapare Aude": Have courage to use your own understanding!
ReplyDeleteHere's more on what Kant meant by "Sapere Aude": https://philosophynow.org/issues/49/Sapere_Aude
DeleteAnd the material about David Whyte, Richard Rorty, Meeting of Minds etc. that I posted for my block of MALA 6010 last year is here: https://cophilosophy2.blogspot.com/2020/10/mala-6010-communication.html
Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer (Jenn) and I'm returning to the MALA program after a few years off. Definitely a "life long learner." Perhaps I'll graduate eventually, but my goal is really just to explore things that interest me and keep challenging my mind. Life gets stale if you don't.
ReplyDeleteEnlightenment to me as I currently think about it (and look forward to this class to learn more), means being open to other ways of thinking, realizing there are/can be multiple perspectives, and being open and willing to challenge what you may have always assumed was the "right and only way."
That's close to my conception of enlightenment too: willingness to entertain various perspectives, being open to new possibilities of thinking and living, not being dogmatically closed to the world and other people. And a commitment to lifelong learning is a big part of it too!
DeleteWelcome to class, Jenn! I loved reading your introduction! I agree, it's always important to consider other ways of doing things and/or challenging one's understanding of a subject or idea. It's incredibly beneficial to both parties and also helps build compassion and understanding, in my opinion. Awesome post!
DeleteAnd speaking of life-long learning, check out my friend Ed: https://twitter.com/OSOPHER/status/1391009254065254402?s=20
DeleteI aspire to be the female version of Ed! I love seeing graduates of all ages walk across that stage. Much to say about dogma and closed-mindedness, but I'll save it for class.
DeleteHi, Lucy! Thanks. And how boring to remain stagnant in one's thinking, right?
Hey, friends! I am Lucy Baldwin and a third semester MALA student. I am excited to be taking this course in philosophy after having Dr. Oliver for one of my Foundations' blocks. I surprised myself by taking this course because I am a learner who enjoys having a "right" answer, and philosophy tends to have many perspectives and understandings. But, as Kant's article urges, "Sapere Aude! [dare to know]" (Kant 1).
ReplyDeleteI am more than interested in listening, learning, and growing this semester! I am typically more of an observer, and I think that this characteristic will be of much benefit in this course. Listening goes a long way! I look forward to meeting you all on Zoom tomorrow night! See you soon!
Greetings and salutations, I am Nathan. I am here because I continue to find meaning in education. As I walk down the hallway into the darkness I know there is a door that might be halfway opened I understand that there are things I am not sure are there but I can at least turn on the light. Enlightenment is being present in one's one environment and seeing without the cloud of the unnecessary. I know some things but I know I do not know everything and enlightenment is something I can strive for but never truly achieve.
ReplyDeleteI like the darkened hallway metaphor. It reminds me of the Wallace Stegner quote my wife and I shared in our wedding scroll...
Delete“The truest vision of life I know is that bird in the Venerable Bede that flutters from the dark into a lighted hall, and after a while flutters out again into the dark. But Ruth is right. It is something--it can be everything--to have found a fellow bird with whom you can sit among the rafters while the drinking and boasting and reciting and fighting go on below; a fellow bird whom you can look after and find bugs and seeds for; one who will patch your bruises and straighten your ruffled feathers and mourn over your hurts when you accidentally fly into something you can't handle. (--from The Spectator Bird)”
And wasn't it Dumbledore who said happiness is always possible if we just remember to turn on the light?
Hello everyone! This is my first semester in the MALA program. I just graduated with a degree in Organizational Communication, so I am diving right in this summer with my first set of MALA classes. I have not taken any type of Philosophy class during my college career, so this is a first for me. I am particularly looking forward to more discussion on philosophy and religion, which Robertson introduces in his book.
ReplyDeleteAs I think more about Enlightenment, it seems that this means that a person has gained a deeper understanding or comprehension of a topic. I cannot say that I am educated on the topic of enlightenment or philosophy, but it appears to me to be an all inclusive topic. People who have studied this topic have created a broad understanding of many aspects of life, then narrowed each of these understandings down to specific knowledge that appear to be related to one another. This assumption may not be correct, but I look forward to learning more about this topic with you all during the semester!
We used to call someone who cultivated "a broad understanding of many aspects of life" a Renaissance Man (Woman), it seems like many in the so-called Information Age have given up on the quest for breadth in favor or minutiae and trivia... but I think it's still an enlightened aspiration, to seek a big-picture grasp of things and not overly narrow one's focus. Wilfred Sellars defined philosophy as the attempt to see "how things in the broadest sense of the word hang together (in the broadest sense)..."
DeleteGabby,
DeleteI am so excited to taking this class with you!! :) I am also not too educated on the topic of philosophy but learned so much through Dr. Oliver's course in 6010 about the Conversation of philosophy.
In Kant's, What is Enlightenment?, what stood out to me the most was not only his definition of enlightenment but his encouragement towards enlightenment: "Sapere aude!". Have courage to use your own understanding.
See you tonight!
I'm excited to get started! Thanks for your intros,you'll all have an opportunity to summarize or expand them tonight. My own answers to those three questions are in the blog post I put up this morning... https://jposopher.blogspot.com/2021/05/enlightenment-now.html
ReplyDeleteGood first session, y'all. Looking forward to next week.
Delete