Syllabus. Instructor Contact: Course Information: HUM 2210: Humanistic Traditions I. Dr. Anthony Crisafi

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1 HUM 2210: Humanistic Traditions I Dr. Anthony Crisafi Syllabus In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for finding himself. If he persists in shifting his responsibility to somebody else, he fails to find out the meaning of his own existence. --Thomas Merton NOTE: Click here to download a PDF version of this Syllabus! Instructor Contact: Instructor Dr. Anthony Crisafi Office TR Physical Office Hours TR 2-3:30 p.m. Online Office Hours MWF: 3 p.m. 4 p.m. Anthony.Crisafi@ucf.edu Course Information: Course Name Credit Hours 3 HUM 2210 Humanistic Traditions I

2 Semester/Year Fall 2016 Location ENG1-O427 Meeting Times Tu 6-8:50 p.m. Course Description: Humanistic Tradition I is an interdisciplinary, multicultural study of the arts and sciences contributed by diverse human traditions to world civilization. Focus is on Ancient civilizations up to the Renaissance. Note that HUM 2210 is a Gordon Rule course. The Gordon Rule (State Rule 6A-10.30) applies to students who first enrolled in any college or university after October The rule requires students to complete four courses (twelve credit hours) of writing and to complete two courses (six credit hours) of mathematics at the level of college algebra or higher. Each course must be completed with a minimum grade of C." HUM 2210 is categorized as a Gordon Rule course. Course Objectives: Analyze and discuss meanings of artworks, performances, and texts in diverse aesthetic, historical, and cultural contexts. Identify the cultural and historical influences of Humanistic thought through the reading of primary source material. Formulate a theory of the Humanistic worldview as represented in the arts, philosophy, literature, and religions of the time and culture. These objectives will be accomplished through readings, discussions, quizzes, and written assignments. Required Text:

3 Janetta Rebold Benton & Robert J. DiYanni: Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Combined Volume, 4/E Supplemental texts: Modules with Powerpoint Presentations Various Websites as linked in each week's lesson. Evaluation and Grading Assignments: 1. Discussions: Because this is a Gordon Rule course, students must write a minimum of pages of competent college writing in this course. This will be accomplished through a series of discussion forum postings. These discussion forum postings will consist of the student s reactions and analyses to the readings we have done throughout the term. You will also be responsible for responding to at least one other student's

4 posting for each discussion forum. These postings will be graded for originality and strength of analysis, organization, structure, and grammar and syntax. Typically, a good discussion posting will read something like this: Throughout the Confessions, Augustine is recounting his life going through many different stages and events of his life ultimately leading up to his complete conversion. Augustine s conversion, however, does not happen all at the one moment when he while sitting under a fig tree crying hears a voice repeat to him Take up and read; Take up and read and which upon reading had all the darkness of doubt vanished away leading to his sudden conversion (St. Augustine, bk. 8). Rather, Augustine s conversion is an ongoing process, as can be seen in his recollections of how he was slowly guided by God throughout his life leading up to the final piece of the puzzle the voice telling him to Take up and read which allowed him to experience what seems to be a singular moment of instant conversion. It is Augustine s changing state of mind throughout his life, as can be seen in the experiences he tells us as readers about that ultimately lead to his acceptance of Christianity and his conversion. As he goes through his different life stages, Augustine very importantly includes in his recount his state of mind at particular moments in his life which through their development help him later on to come to God. Augustine begins the Confessions with recollections, both from his own memory and the memory of others such as his mother or nanny, of his childhood. At this point in the Confessions Augustine s state of mind is one of confusion which could be caused by the deferral of his baptism when he was sick and for which he asks I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? (St. Augustine, bk. 1) As Augustine continues to contemplate on the deferral of his baptism, he comes to the conclusion that it was deferred very wisely by his mother because if he were baptized at that point in his life he would still have to face many temptations later on and having been baptized so early would not be forgiven as easily as if he waited until later on in life to be baptized and forgiven of his sins. Indeed, throughout not only his childhood but other stages in his life the temptations Augustine faced as he sought for pleasures, sublimities, [and] truths caused him to fall headlong into sorrows, confusions, [and] errors (St. Augustine, bk.1). As Augustine goes on he tells of his adolescence and his most pressing care throughout this time in his life being his studies and the satisfaction of his bodily or carnal desires. It is in this period of

5 time that Augustine came across a book written by Cicero called Hortensius that he started to somewhat change because as Augustine put it this book altered my prayers to Thyself O Lord; and made me have other purposes and desires (St. Augustine, bk.3). At this point in his life Augustine delves into the Bible, but seeing it only as a simple text even children could understand did not think much of it and his state of mind changed to one of defiance of the teachings of Christianity and which led him to join the Manichees. Looking back at this point in time, Augustine recalls that I in my blindness, censured the holy Fathers and These things I being ignorant of, scoffed at those Thy holy servants and prophets (St. Augustine, bk. 3). After this Augustine tells of another event in his life which once again causes his state of mind to change and develop towards acceptance of the teachings of Christianity. The event is that of his friend s illness, baptism, recovery, and then death. Augustine s friend upon falling ill and unconscious is baptized. Augustine, however, being a Manichee views the baptism as pointless For long, sore sick of a fever, he lay senseless in a death-sweat; and his recovery being despaired of, he was baptised, unknowing; myself meanwhile little regarding, and presuming that his soul would retain rather what it had received of me, not what was wrought on his unconscious body (St. Augustine, bk. 4). However, when his friend somewhat recovered and Augustine essentially tried to joke about his being baptized, his friend did not joke back but asked Augustine to not joke on the matter. Not long after his friend died and in order to escape the grief Augustine left for Carthage where he met Faustus and their encounter would help change Augustine s mind again. Faustus was a Manichee bishop which Augustine hoped would help answers some questions and doubts that Augustine had. However, upon learning that Faustus could not answer his questions, Augustine began to doubt the Manichee s teachings, and this doubt lead him to a state of mind of disbelief which further led Augustine to seek out different things to find some truth and answers. It is at this point that under the advice of friends Augustine leaves for Rome and comes across Bishop Ambrose, who through his teachings helps Augustine see not only Christianity s teachings in a different light but the Bible as well. Augustine starts to turn towards Christianity but is still unable to let go of some of his carnal desires until his moment of inspiration while crying under a fig tree he hears a voice and reads a passage that helps him let go of the carnal desires and become completely converted. Thus, Augustine s conversion did not just happen in one instant but was

6 accumulating throughout his life, developed by the events that took place, leading him to acceptance and finally to a complete conversion. Works Cited St. Augustine. "The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Saint Augustine. Search etext, Read Online, Study, Discuss.." The Literature Network: Online classic literature, poems, and quotes. Essays & Summaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May < A typically good discussion posting response will be at least two paragraphs in length and will look something like this: You have provided some excellent points regarding Augustine s infancy and childhood that explains why he found them so important. In his infancy, like you explained, Augustine s journey with sin began, crying and throwing tantrums in order to acquire things. Although, he does not recognize this at first, mostly due to ignorance, he does eventually draw that conclusion as he grows older. This helps him realize that as an infant and/or child he abused the very God that gave him life and as a result caused him to stray from Christianity. However, as a man he begins a path of self-examination. Questioning his actions, his youth, and his sins, all in order to confirm what he did wrong in his life so he could take the right steps to correct them. By the end of this reflection, we can see that Augustine has a better comprehension of sin, utilizing this knowledge to avert it and remain closer to God. I think you were correct about Augustine wanting to atone for his childhood sins. Why else would he thoroughly analyze them? Also, the fact that you utilized the example from book 3 to describe this, tied in well with this assertion. He is definitely questioning his actions and why he committed them. I wish there were other examples from the book that described his teenager years and how it affected him. But overall the example given summarized your conclusion on how easily Augustine strayed from God and then found him later in life. 2. Chapter Quizzes: There will be a series of exams throughout the term, and they will test the student s knowledge of the subjects through multiple choice and identification. Exams will be administered online through Webcourses. 3. Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive final exam administered during the Final Exam period, the dates of which are Wednesday, April 29, Tuesday, May 05, 2015

7 Grading Procedures: Assignment Points as Percentage of Grade Discussions 50% Chapter Quizzes 30% Final Exam 20% Total 100% Grading Scale: A % C 74-76% A % C % B % D % B 84-86% D 64-66% B % D % C % F 0-59% Attendance Policy: As of Fall 2014, all faculty members are required to document students' academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please complete the specified academic activity by the end of the first week of classes, or as soon as possible after adding the course, but no later than Friday, January 16. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid. The specific academic activity that will satisfy this requirement is a short introductory essay. Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for one person that will not apply to everyone. Disability Statement:

8 The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) , TTY/TDD only phone (407) , before requesting accommodations from the professor. Course Schedule: NOTE: Initial discussion postings are due by Sunday of the week assigned, while responses are due by the Tuesday immediately following the discussion. Check the individual Modules for complete due dates. Module Chapter 1: Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian Beginning Date 8/22 Tuesday Lecture Earliest Cultures Mesopotamia Assignments Discussions: Introductory Essay for Attendance Requirement, Due Friday, August 26. Chapter 1: Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian Chapter 2: Aegean Culture and Early Greece Chapter 3: Classical and Hellenic Greece Chapter 3: Classical and Hellenic Greece 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 Egypt Discussions: Chapter 1 Due Sunday, Sept 4 Quiz: Chapter 1, due Sunday, Sept 4 Aegean Cultures Rise of Ancient Greece Classical Greece Discussions: Chapter 2, due Sunday, Sept 11 Quiz: Chapter 2, due Sunday, Sept 11 Hellenistic Greece Discussions: Chapter 3, due Sunday, Sept 25 Quiz: Chapter 3, due Sunday, Sept 25 Chapter 4: Roman 9/26 Etruscan The Roman Republic Chapter 4: Roman 10/3 The Roman Empire Discussions: Chapter

9 4, due Sunday, Oct 9 Quiz: Chapter 4, due Sunday, Oct 9 Chapter 5: Judaism, Early Christianity, and Byzantine Chapter 5: Judaism, Early Christianity, and Byzantine Chapter 6: Islamic 10/10 10/17 10/24 Judaism Early Christianity Byzantine Discussion: Chapter 5, due Sunday, Oct 23 Quiz: Chapter 5, due Sunday, Oct 23 Islamic Discussion: Chapter 6, due Sunday, Oct 30 Quiz: Chapter 6, due Sunday, Oct 30 Chapter 7: Indian 10/31 Vedic Period Maurya to Gupta Era Discussion: Chapter 7, due Sunday, Nov 6 Quiz: Chapter 7, due Sunday, Nov 6 Chapter 8: Early Chinese & 9: Early Japanese 11/7 Early Chinese Early Japanese Discussion: Chapters 8 & 9, due Sunday, Nov 13 Quiz: Chapters 8 & 9, due Sunday, Nov 13 Chapter 10: Early of the Americas and Africa 11/14 Mesoamerica and North America Africa Discussions: Chapter 10, due Sunday, Nov 20 Quiz: Chapter 10, due Sunday, Nov 20 Chapter 11: Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque 11/21 Early Medieval Culture Discussion: Chapter 11, due Sunday, Nov 27 Quiz: Chapter 11, due Sunday, Nov 27 Chapter 12: Gothic and Late Middle Ages 11/28 Gothic Era Discussions: Chapter 12, due Sunday, Dec 4 Quiz: Chapter 12, due Sunday, Dec 4

10 Final Exam Week: Dec 6 Dec 12 12/5 Final Exam Starts Tuesday, Dec 6! Final Exam Due Monday, Dec 12!