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Intro to Social Theory: A Cheese Plate of the Social SciencesThis class will explore, in brief, a variety of central concepts in social theory. The primary mode of teaching will be through recorded lecture videos, quotes, discussion, and connection to relevant current dialogues. No student (or instructor) should expect to fully comprehend any of these concepts by the end of the class. The (ideally more realistic) goals of the class are as follows: Students should become somewhat conversant in all of these major themes and the related theoryStudents will be able to apply these theories to their lives and use them to better understand the world around them.Students will develop an appreciation of social theory and a predisposition toward applying these theories to whatever field they choose to pursue in college or later in life. Big themes by week, followed by source texts:Human Interaction I: The Adam Smith StoryThe Theory of Moral Sentiments – Adam SmithAn Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations – Adam SmithWhat Makes a Democracy? Of the Social Contract, Or Principles of Political Right – Jean-Jacques RousseauOn Democracy in America – Alexis de TocquevilleIs Nietzsche Evil?Beyond Good and Evil – Friedrich NietzscheOn the Genealogy of Morality – Friedrich NietzscheTheories of HistoryCritique of Pure Reason – Immanuel KantCapital – Karl MarxHuman Interaction II: Why Foucault is AwesomeDiscipline and Punish – Michel FoucaultHistory of Sexuality – Michel FoucaultGenderThe Second Sex – Simone de BeauvoirGender Trouble – Judith ButlerExistence and InteractionBeing and Nothingness – Jean-Paul SartreThe Theory of Communicative Action – Jürgen HabermasA Theory of Justice – John Rawls ................
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