COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Philosophers and political economists have long used "human nature" as a way to understand and justify the world. After the advent of Darwinian evolutionary theory and Mendelian genetics, however, the notion of innate characteristics gained new authority, reshaping categories like race, nature, and instinct. We will track that shift and examine how its effects have continued to ramify into the present, influencing politics and social policy along the way.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
- Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents. New York: W. W. Norton, 1962.
- Keller, Evelyn Fox. The Mirage of a Space between Nature and Nurture. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2010.
- Lewontin, Richard. Biology as Ideology. New York: Harper Collins, 1991.
- Lewontin, Richard. The Triple Helix. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard UP, 2000.
- Moore, David S. The Developing Genome: An Introduction to Behavioral Epigenetics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
OTHER READINGS:
All other readings are available on the course website (Sakai).
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS:
Please note that we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate students with disabilities. For Pitzer students, to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Pitzer’s Academic Support Services (PASS) in the Office of Student Affairs to inquire about accommodations and support services (https://www.pitzer.edu/student-life/academic-support-services/). It would be best for any interested students to contact PASS early in the semester so that a collaborative plan can be developed for the academic year. PASS will work with students to identify reasonable and appropriate accommodations. If you attend another one of the Claremont Colleges, please contact your home college’s disability officer; you can get more information about that by contacting the Claremont Colleges Student Disability Resource Center here: sdrc@cuc.claremont.edu.
USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES:
With regard to digital devices (e.g., laptops, phones, tablets, etc.), we insist that you restrict their use in class to note-taking ONLY, and that you refrain from using such devices during class for other activities (e.g., texting, web surfing, video watching, etc.). If we find that students are using a device for something other than note-taking, those students will no longer be permitted to use digital devices in the class.
AUDIO RECORDINGS:
Please ask our permission if you really think you need to make an audio recording of the class. If we do give you permission to record the class, the recording must be for your personal use ONLY and must be deleted at the end of the semester. We do not permit any video recording or photography while in class, as these are not necessary.
WRITING CENTER:
Located in Mead 131, the Writing Center is one of Pitzer’s most popular academic resources. The Writing Center offers roughly 1,600 free one-on-one conferences with student writers working on projects across the disciplines. Writing Center Fellows are Pitzer students trained to consult with writers on any assignment at all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to developing an effective revision strategy. In addition to regular appointments, specialized consultations are available for senior thesis writers, multilingual writers, and fellowship applicants. You may book a consultation through the Writing Center’s online scheduler.
In addition to consultations, the Writing Center hosts virtual workshops, write-ins, and events designed to help you tap into community and sustain your motivation. If you have any doubts at all about your writing, we urge you to sign up for an appointment or drop by a virtual write-in or event prior to doing significant work on your final paper for this course. For more information, visit the Writing Center’s website at https://www.pitzer.edu/writing-center/.
STANDARD CONTENT WARNING:
Please note that the material covered in this course may be challenging to some students. It will cover topics related to political and economic systems that some oppose. It will also cover topics related to human psychology, possibly including subjects such as mental illness, depression, suicide, psychosis, child neglect or maltreatment, pathological behaviors, sexual behaviors, evolution, obesity and/or eating disorders, recreational drug use/abuse, or any of several other topics that some individuals might find re-traumatizing. In this course in particular, we will be discussing concepts such as “racial hygiene,” eugenics, and genocide. Please feel free to step outside during a class if you need to. Having said that, please be aware that these are standard topics of discussion in a course like this one.3