Philosophy

Philosophy and the Question of Modernity

Philosophy

In this course, we will look at how several thinkers interpret man and his story relative to the question of modernity. Our goal will be to learn from and critique these thinkers in order that we might gesture toward a more complete understanding of our civilization, as well as our task within it.  The course will draw from Herman Bavinck, C.S. Lewis, Anthony Giddens, Charles Taylor, and L.M. Sacasas, among others. Taught by Dr. Joseph Minich. Runs 4/12-6/18/21.

Description

This Philosophy course will be taught by Dr. Joseph Minich, and will run from April 12 through June 18. The syllabus is available here.

Interpreters of our civilization often invoke something called modernity. But just what is this phenomenon? What sets apart our moment from past moments? Alternatively, are the differences between past and present overblown? Asking and answering such questions inevitably involves a reading of human beings and of the story that they’re in. In this course, we will look at how several thinkers interpret man and his story relative to the question of modernity. Our goal will be to learn from and critique these thinkers in order that we might gesture toward a more complete understanding of our civilization, as well as our task within it. Among the items discussed will be the nature of secularism, the debate over whether we live in a “disenchanted” age, the relationship between modernity and trust, and the role played by non-intellectual factors (technology, etc) in all of the above. The course will draw from Herman Bavinck, C.S. Lewis, Anthony Giddens, Charles Taylor, and L.M. Sacasas, among others.

Joseph Minich (Ph.D. The University of Texas at Dallas) is a Teaching Fellow with The Davenant Institute, and a co-host of the Pilgrim Faith podcast along with Davenant Teaching Fellow, Dale Sternberg. He is the author of Enduring Divine Absence and a frequent contributor to Modern Reformation. He lives in Garland, Tx, with his wife and four children.

Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2 hr./wk. via videoconference. Students will also have the option to participate in a class discussion board. Register to reserve your spot and schedule will be set after a poll of participating students; if the class time does not fit your schedule, you will be eligible for a full refund. Note: all classes are offered dependent on demand and require a minimum of four participating students. This is a graduate-level seminar. Although a Bachelor’s degree is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.