GS101 Freedom & Authority

Freedom and Authority investigates how Western intellectual and cultural traditions may be drawn upon or need to be criticized if we are to meet the challenges of contemporary life. Exploring in an interdisciplinary manner the conflicts of individual freedom and institutional authority in ethics, politics, science and religion, block 1 looks at ancient types of personal authority—the hero (in epic and drama), the citizen (in democratic Athens and republican Rome) and the prophet, saint or martyr in religious, philosophical and political contexts. We consider how these types are to be applied in modern societies: can the Homeric hero function in a modern war or come home to a late-capitalist society? How does a modern representative democracy represent “power of the People” or a mixed, republican constitution balance individual freedom against the power of multinational corporations and global free trade? How do we know when a Socratic daimonion or the voice of God should be attended to? 

The course is organized in modules: a module of information and then modules for the weeks of August 24-28, August 31-September 4, September 7-11 and September 14-16. 

After an examination of some modern structures that may promote or frustrate individual freedom, Block 2 explores these dynamics through the lens of Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Industrial Revolution thinkers. We will trace the major social and political movements of the past five centuries. Special attention will be paid to how scientific, industrial, and economic developments have fundamentally changed the relationship between the individual and society. A major goal of the second block is to apply this knowledge to modern-day debates, including climate change, anti-vaccination, anti-fracking, cybersecurity, and online privacy.
A two-block course with a unique instructor each block; one grade will be given for the course as a whole.

• Calendar for Block 2
• Schedule for Week 1, September 21-25.
• Schedule for Week 2, September 28-October 2.
• Schedule for Week 3, October 5-9.
• Schedule for Week 4, October 12-14.

Mentor for both blocks is Emily Kohut 719-287-5261 Emily.Kohut@coloradocollege.edu.