CC @ THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY

 

PH 303: Topics in Philosophy / HY 200: Topics in History / FG 208: Advanced Topics in Feminist & Gender Studies

 

PRAGMATISM, PROGRESSIVISM, FEMINISM:

BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN CENTURY

Block 7, Spring 2014

This course investigates influential early twentieth-century responses to the polarization of America by class, religion, ethnicity, race, and sex. Pragmatist philosophers challenged people to rethink the human mind, encouraging Americans to become confident about their abilities to respond to and manage change. Early progressive movements, meanwhile, organized cultural elites and common people, sometimes including poor urban ethnic minorities, claiming to constrain the power of corporations, reject prejudices, and democratize society and politics – though whether progressive politics was actually democratic or anti-democratic remains in dispute. Both developments drew women into leadership roles in areas that had traditionally been patriarchal and male-dominated, driving men and women alike to begin rethinking sex roles and gender identities, with the resulting women's rights campaigns feeding back on the era's re-conceptualization of the mind and social organization. Together these three interrelated movements helped transform the relatively closed Protestant, business-dominated, patriarchal order of the late nineteenth century, giving birth to an America that aspired to embrace diversity, social and political inclusion, and sexual equality.

 

READINGS

The first week or so of the course will introduce these intellectual and historical movements, providing students with theoretical tools to investigate them critically. Specific readings and authors have not been chosen yet, but they will likely include some of the following:

 

Troubling Americans: Radical anarchists like Emma Goldman refused to accept the division of America along the lines of class, religion, ethnicity, race, and sex - even to the point of being arrested regularly.  
  A New Mind: Psychologists like William James argued that Americans needed to break out of traditional mindsets and embrace "radical empiricism."
Pragmatic Society: Philosophers like John Dewey encouraged Americans to rethink not only the mind, but also society, politics, and education.  
  Progressivism: Privileged activists like Jane Addams went beyond criticism to action, reaching out to organize ethnic minorities and the poor.
Feminism: Building on pragmatist and progressive principles, a robust feminist movement emerged, arguing not only for equal suffrage but also pointing toward new roles for women -- and men.  

 

THE RESEARCH PROJECTS

After the introductory readings and discussions, students will use the rich holdings of the Newberry Library to develop research projects that assess these movements and their interactions, asking, for example, whether better understanding of these historic struggles may provide models for engaging the problems of the present era, or whether some of our current challenges may be rooted in problematic or incomplete achievements of these early twentieth-century innovators.

 

CHICAGO

While in Chicago -- home to some of the strongest currents of pragmatism, progressivism, and feminism in the early 20th century -- the class will visit key historic sites and have a number of opportunities to get to know the rich mosaic of Chicago life, including sampling some good restaurants, museums, and other public venues.

 

EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL AID

There will be a program fee of $400, plus a $200 refundable housing deposit. Included in the program fee will be housing in Chicago and fees for field trips. The fee will also include a number of class dinners or lunches out in the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago - about one per week. Not included: transportation to and from Chicago and most meals in Chicago. The apartments have small kitchens, and there are many grocery stores nearby.

Financial aid will be available for those with demonstrable need through the Dean's Office.

 

APPLY TO ENROLL

Enrollment is limited to 15, and is by consent of instructors only. Interested? Download an application form HERE, and either see Dennis McEnnerney during his office hours in 124 Armstrong Hall (blocks 3-6), or write to him (especially in blocks 1 and 2, when he will be teaching in Paris!).

Email Dennis McEnnerney for more information.