The Epoch of Renaissance as Heir, Representative and Forerunner of European Humanism: course description
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Peter C. Mayer-Tasch, Ludwig Maximilians Universität
Whenever the Europeans have reason to insist upon their actual cultural and ethic peculiarities they will refer to rationalism and humanism. Humanism belongs to the very essence of the occidental heritage. Often enough Europeans feel obliged to transform this heritage into a mission and try to maintain the values, derived from this heritage, in social and political affairs. This may be observed wherever different cultural and social patterns come across each others within society or in national and international affairs. The discussion about many current issues reflect this phenomenon, e.g. the discussion about the legitimate reasons for waging war, about civil rights, about torture, about death penalty and the like.
In view of this sociocultural situation it seems important to make the students of different cultural background familiar with this European cultural pattern, with its roots and with its impact on our present social and political life. The age of globalization can only become a success for all mankind when nations and individuals communicate with each other not only for economic, social and political reasons, but also try to understand each other in view of the respective cultural, social and historical context. Otherwise the “clash of civilizations” (Huntington) indeed will become our disastrous destiny.
This seminar intends to make a contribution to the better understanding of the roots and the character of European Humanism. If it is focussing the epoch of Renaissance it is because during this period the idealistic tendencies and dispositions of the classical antiquity were taken up, transformed, cast into forms, that could be easily developed into even nowadays valid humanistic attitudes, patterns and institutions. With other words: the age of Renaissance will be presented and discussed as a hinge-point of European Humanism.
Course Outline
In the beginning of the course I intend to ask for the academic background and the expectations of the participants, at the same time stating my own goals for this seminar. The course then will start by a general introduction into the respective topic. Thereafter one of the students who has prepared a paper within the framework of the respective topic (ca. 15-20 minutes) will present his paper. Following this presentation the paper will be extensively discussed, the discussion being enriched and widened by complementary information and considerations of the professor.
During the first lesson the students are confronted with a list of possible topics for their respective paper. At the latest during the second week of the semester the participants have to choose their topic.
There will be a final written exam. The students will be confronted with three questions, referring to the topic of the seminar, including the topics of the presented papers and the discussed ideas and institutions. This final exam will last about 1 ½ hours.
To do some exercise there will be a short intermediate written exam towards the end of October. At this exam the students will be confronted with two questions referring to the topic of the seminar. This intermediate exam will last 1 hour. The aim is to make the students more comfortable with the final exam.
In view of this sociocultural situation it seems important to make the students of different cultural background familiar with this European cultural pattern, with its roots and with its impact on our present social and political life. The age of globalization can only become a success for all mankind when nations and individuals communicate with each other not only for economic, social and political reasons, but also try to understand each other in view of the respective cultural, social and historical context. Otherwise the “clash of civilizations” (Huntington) indeed will become our disastrous destiny.
This seminar intends to make a contribution to the better understanding of the roots and the character of European Humanism. If it is focussing the epoch of Renaissance it is because during this period the idealistic tendencies and dispositions of the classical antiquity were taken up, transformed, cast into forms, that could be easily developed into even nowadays valid humanistic attitudes, patterns and institutions. With other words: the age of Renaissance will be presented and discussed as a hinge-point of European Humanism.
Course Outline
In the beginning of the course I intend to ask for the academic background and the expectations of the participants, at the same time stating my own goals for this seminar. The course then will start by a general introduction into the respective topic. Thereafter one of the students who has prepared a paper within the framework of the respective topic (ca. 15-20 minutes) will present his paper. Following this presentation the paper will be extensively discussed, the discussion being enriched and widened by complementary information and considerations of the professor.
During the first lesson the students are confronted with a list of possible topics for their respective paper. At the latest during the second week of the semester the participants have to choose their topic.
There will be a final written exam. The students will be confronted with three questions, referring to the topic of the seminar, including the topics of the presented papers and the discussed ideas and institutions. This final exam will last about 1 ½ hours.
To do some exercise there will be a short intermediate written exam towards the end of October. At this exam the students will be confronted with two questions referring to the topic of the seminar. This intermediate exam will last 1 hour. The aim is to make the students more comfortable with the final exam.
