Washington University at St. Louis

Citizenship and Freedom: From Plato to Maya

Summer 2021
History, as nearly no one seems to know, is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. It could scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities, and our aspirations. —James Baldwin, Ebony, 1965
COURSE DESCRIPTION This intensive summer humanities seminar will guide students through a three-week study and discussion of classic texts in history, philosophy, religion, political thought and literature, among others, to examine one central question: how can authors of the past inform our understanding of liberty and self-governance today? Seminar discussions, writing assignments and guest speakers will help students connect these historical writings to contemporary life in the St. Louis region. WEEK ONE – Introduction and Education
  1. Day 1: Introduction
  2. Day 2: What is the Aim of Education?
    • Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave”
    • James Baldwin, “A Talk with Teachers,”
WEEK TWO – Foundations of Westeran Political Thought
  1. Day 1: The Subject of Politics
    • Aristotle, Politics, Selections
  2. Day 2: The Political Subject
    • Thomas Hobbes, The Leviathan, Book 1
WEEK THREE – Nation and Citizen
  1. Day 1: The Liberal State and Citizenship
    • Thomas Jefferson, “Declaration of Independence”
    • Constitution of the United States of America
  2. Day 2
    • Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
    • Randolph Bourne, “Trans-National America,”
WEEK FOUR – Contestations
  1. Day 1
    • King, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,”
  2. Day 2
    • Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?”
    • Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings, Selections
  ASSIGNMENTS: Reading Reflection: Quote, Note Question: Every class session, students should come to class with a reading reflection. Reflections should consist of a prominent and/or interesting quote from the reading, followed by an explanation of what exactly the student found interesting, intriguing, and/or significant about the quote. Finally, the reflection should include a question that arose from the quote and/or reading. Final Reflection/Speech: Addressing the most pressing issue in your region 2-4pgs.
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