HISTORY 2391 - Reason and Passions

Institution:

Bard College

Subject:

Description:

STS What is the good life? In hard times, is it better to serve or to flee society? What power does reason have over the passions? Descartes and Pascal, Molière and Racine, Fontenelle and Foigny debated these fundamental questions during hard times in the 17th century. Optimists and pessimists alike developed their views in philosophical treatises, plays, fables, and other genres designed to reach a large Francophone audience. This course samples their writings, exploring the influences-ancient and modern, religious and libertine, scientific and political- on their thought.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.bard.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 758-6822

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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