Ten Images of Hell in the Twentieth Century

In this section, we explore the topic of explanation.  For social scientists, this means focusing on causation. For example, if we pose the following question, “How do we account for the fact that ‘Hell happens…?” we automatically have to consider possible causes.  Since one or more causes are possible, our choice of one over another constitutes an explanation.  This bring up a second issue.  How do issues of cause and effect become muddled as a result of different understandings of Hell?  If I believe Hell means one thing and you believe it means something quite different, we are likely to identify different causes.

 

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TYRANTS, MURDERERS, AND MADMEN:  “THE DEVIL’S DEEDS . . .”

12. Thursday, February 23.

Discussion:  In this section, we discuss those explanations of Hell that focus on the role of individual human beings.

• Robert Todd Carroll, “Satan,” in the The Skeptic’s Dictionary: PRINT AND READ
• Milovan Djilas, Conversations with Stalin, pp. 56-84  PRINT AND READ
• Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem, pp. 36-55  PRINT AND READ
• Timothy Snyder, “Springtime for Stalin” READ

Background information about various “devils”: National Public Radio interview with Riccardo Orizio about Talk about the Devil:  LISTEN

 

Your First Essay Assignment is HERE

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STALIN’S TERROR: “A SELF-IMPOSED HELL . . . “

13. Tuesday, February 28.

• George Orwell, “Down the Mine”  PRINT AND READ
• George Orwell,  Homage to Catalonia. Read Chapters 1-5, as well as the Introduction by Lionel Trilling.
• A Photo Essay on the Spanish Civil War:   LOOK
• A brief assessment of the war:  READ

14. Thursday, March 1.
We will watch the first half of a film on this date.

• Richard Bugajski, “The Interrogation” (film)
• Prepare for film by reading HERE

You may find Bugajski’s depiction of Stalinist terror agonizing. In my opinion, there is no way to sugar-coat the horrors of Stalinism. Remind me to warn you beforehand about one especially disturbing scene.

Then, on the same day. . .

15.  Thursday evening, March 1.

We will meet at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at 6:00 to have dinner and watch the rest of “The  Interrogation.”

16. Tuesday, March 6.

• Conclude discussion of Homage to Catalonia.  Read Chapters 8, 22-24.

 

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TECHNOLOGY IS US:  “A HELL OF YOUR OWN MAKING . . .”

17. Thursday, March 6.

Begin discussion of Aldous Huxley, Brave New World. Read chapters 1-5.

 

MID-TERM BREAK
MARCH 10 – MARCH 18

 

18. Tuesday, March 20.

Finish discussion of Aldous Huxley, Brave New World. Finish the book.

Also read:

• Benedict Carey, “Brain Researchers Open Door to Editing Memory,” New York Times, April 6, 2009 HERE
• Jonathan Colvin, “Me, my clone, and I” PRINT AND READ
• “Mary had a little lamb” RECITE

19.  Thursday, March 22.

• Peter Singer, “Taking Life: Humans,” from Practical Ethics (HAND-OUT)
• Jason Zinoman, “The Ethics of Baby-Killing,” salon.com PRINT AND READ
• Harriet Johnson, “Unspeakable Conversations” PRINT AND READ
• Keith Fornier, “The Dignity of the Person” PRINT AND READ

For this discussion, I recommend that you surf around a bit to acquire a very general understanding of the philosophical approach known as “utilitarianism.”

 

20. Tuesday, March 27.

The Second Great Debate!

 

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NOTE:  Please leave your technology at home. This includes electronic devices of any kind, such as laptops, i-Pads, cell phones, Kindles, video cameras, or other personal digital devices.