Social Sciences   

Does a lot of what you read in the news about the world concern you? Does it make you feel a bit overwhelmed? Do you wish you could understand the “big picture” better and share your concerns about the world with others? Over 10 weeks, this interactive class will discuss global issues confronting the new president as presented in the Foreign Policy Association’s “Great Decisions 2025” booklet: 1) the most pressing decisions before the U.S. in 2025; 2) American foreign policy; 3) U.S. changing leadership of the world economy; 4) U.S.-China relations; 5) India: between China, the West and the Global South; 6) international cooperation on climate change; 7) the future of NATO and European security; 8) artificial intelligence and American national security; 9) American foreign policy in the Middle East; 10) common themes and likely future directions. All participants in this course must have the ability to respectfully discuss viewpoints different from your own.

NOTE: Participants will be expected to read about 20 pages before class covering various points of view so that we’ll be able to dive in and spend most of our class time on informed discussion. The “Great Decisions 2025” booklet is required reading and will be distributed at the first class. (Cost: $35) 

This course will provide a learning environment for understanding war culture. We will consider ways to promote critical consciousness and intellectual curiosity, and we will craft ideas for moving toward a democratic culture of peace. Students should be prepared to discuss all aspects of a war culture including strong anti-war endeavors such as “Howard Zinn on War.” “Waging peace” means learning to live with diversity instead of combating it. This course will be based on “After Empire: Myth, Rhetoric, and Democratic Revival” by Robert L. Ivie and Oscar Giner, 2024. Lecture slides will cover content from the book. Discussion questions will be provided ahead of each class session, and students will be encouraged to highlight portions of the book they would like to discuss in class. It’s a rich text. Within each chapter we will choose what we discuss as a class. Students are also welcome to arrive to class with no preparation! 

NOTE: Students should acquire “After Empire: Myth, Rhetoric, and Democratic Revival” by Robert L. Ivie and Oscar Giner.

Human language is unique and ubiquitous. Only humans speak a language (although AI is changing that), and every human learns at least one. How might language have evolved, and what is it that we know when we know a language? How do the thousands of languages in the world vary, and what features do they have in common? Does your language influence your thoughts and perceptions? Linguists don’t have full answers to these questions, but we’ll survey what the scientific study of language has uncovered so far. We’ll see what animal communication systems might reveal about the origins of human language and discuss what makes it special, examining its structure at the level of sounds, words and sentences. Next, we’ll delve into the controversial topic of how language might influence thought. Finally, we’ll consider the uncertain prospects of languages that are dying out, and what can be done to revitalize them. Video, audio, short readings and activities will supplement the presentations. 
 
NOTE: This class has been taught previously, but this one will incorporate a bit of new material on AI systems that use language.