Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Jerry Himmelstein
110 Morgan Hall
Phone: (413) 542-2129
E-mail: jlhimmelstei@amherst.edu
Course website: http://blackboard.amherst.edu
Office hours: tba
REQUIRED READINGS
All required books are on reserve in the Frost Library and available at
the Jeffery Amherst College Store. In addition, I will distribute a short course
reader.
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THE NATURE OF THE COURSE
GOALS
1. Learn more about the ideas of five important sociological thinkers.
2. Improve our ability to read complex texts closely, articulating the
central arguments, basic assumptions, and important logical connections.
3. Improve our ability to evaluate complex arguments critically.
4. Improve our ability to write about these kinds of arguments.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Commit the time to doing and thinking about the reading.
2. Attend class.
3. Participate in class discussion and on the discussion board on the
course website.
4. Listen to and be respectful of what others have to say.
5. Follow the rules of intellectual responsibility.
MY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Guide you through the readings, helping you put together the
basic arguments.
2. Provide an atmosphere conducive to discussion.
3. Provide substantive feedback on papers, discussion board
postings, and comments in class discussion.
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COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
4. The Critique of Capitalism: What's wrong with it, how it will fall, what
will take its place (Sept. 24)
“Socialism Utopian and Scientific,” pp. 700-717
"The Civil War in France," pp. 618-642.
"Critique of the Gotha Program," pp. 529(last par.)-531 (1 st 2 par.).
WEBER
DURKHEIM
FREUD
4. Religion (Dec. 8)
Future of an Illusion, entire book.