The Western Tradition & its Discontents
Subject 161-484 (2009)
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook
| Credit Points: | 12.50 | ||||||||||||
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| Level: | 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate) | ||||||||||||
| Dates & Locations: | This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009: Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here. | ||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: | Contact Hours: A 2-hour seminar per week Total Time Commitment: Total of 10 hours per week | ||||||||||||
| Prerequisites: | Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours, or a postgraduate course work program. | ||||||||||||
| Corequisites: | None | ||||||||||||
| Recommended Background Knowledge: | None | ||||||||||||
| Non Allowed Subjects: | None | ||||||||||||
| Core Participation Requirements: |
For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry. It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability |
| Subject Overview: | Since the Renaissance many scholars and scientist have considered themselves as part of a tradition based on principles set out in Greek and Roman antiquity and reestablished in early modern Europe. While this tradition is still prevalent both in academic and in broader culture as providing the identity of “the West”, it has drawn substantial criticism as it is often connoted with the idea of a supposed superiority of the Western civilization over others, not the least because it was within this tradition that modern science emerged. This subject will study the history of this tradition and its different interpretations. It will focus on different images and references in both “West” (or “Occident”) and “East” (or “Orient”), how different developments (from the role of Islamic culture in transmission of Greek knowledge to the role of oriental studies for early modern science) have been ignored in interpretations of the Western tradition and whether the concept of the Western Tradition inherently contains a notion of superiority. On completion students will gain an historically founded understanding of the role of the Western tradition in contemporary scholarship and politics in shaping cultural identities. |
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| Objectives: | Students who successfully complete this subject should
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| Assessment: | One 5000 word essay (due during examination period) |
| Prescribed Texts: | A subject reader will be available from the Bookroom at the beginning of semester. |
| Breadth Options: | This subject is not available as a breadth subject. |
| Fees Information: | Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date |
| Generic Skills: | Students who successfully complete this subject should
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| Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: |
History and Philosophy of Science History and Philosophy of Science |
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