First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-20)

Topic

Philosophy of the City

Instructors

Claire Amelia Becerra

Meeting Info

Kresge 3438 Philosophy Sem. Rm: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

In the Republic, Plato uses the "Kallipolis"—the beautiful city—as a hypothetical arrangement to explore questions of justice, the soul, governance, the family, education, art, and more. This course will explore such questions as: What is a city? How should a city be governed? What does it mean to be a "city person"? How does living in a city shape our identities, habits, attitudes, and virtues/vices? How does the city influence our relationship to bodies—our own, and those of others? What is the relationship between the city and autonomy, creativity, democracy, and diversity? We will explore these questions by progressing through ways the city was conceived within the history of philosophy (eg, Plato) move into more modern conceptions (eg, Hannah Arendt) and eventually engage with philosophically-oriented analyses of current issues such as gentrification, tourism, sanctuary cities, and sustainability. Students will have occasion to discuss these readings alongside their experiences living in different kinds of political and spatial arrangements. Throughout the course, we will focus on how to become effective writers by transitioning from oral discussions and shorter, informal reflections into more formal, sophisticated written work.

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required