Orthodoxy, Updates

All,

First, the following reading comes from the op-ed page of Wednesday's New York Times. While I normally avoid endorsing op-eds, let alone assigning them, Mr Simon's analysis is as valid as his subject matter is poignant for our purposes. In the course of his piece, Mr Simon makes the connection between the contemporary terror trials (and the debate surrounding them) and the trial of Adolf Eichmann, which you should already be reading. Thus, I can't imagine a better transition to the next part of the course than this article.

This constitutes required course materials. Read and comment.

Second, there are a couple other pieces from this week's NYT that I would like you to read, although they are not necessarily course material in the sense that they will be potential test questions. (A) in reference to Libby's post on women in combat, here is a piece on that very same issue. Specifically, it addresses the "disconnect between the policy that says what women can do and what women are actually doing." The reality is that women daily face combat in Iraq, whereas the policy (which is to keep them out of regular combat assignments) precludes them from receiving regular combat training. In short, the practical result is to willfully deploy unprepared individuals in harm's way on the basis of an unrealistic theoretical principle. This is bad. (B) Thomas Friedman wrote a concise, clear, compelling piece on the economic and security interests behind energy policy. I like his argument due to its focus: rather than basing his writing on some sort of milquetoast-yet-principled position of neo-hippie sensibility, he proceeds from international policy and population growth to promote green energy while exposing the contradictory arguments of the opposition in all their naive and narrow glory. Valid if vitriolic, Mr Friedman addresses rarely heard yet vitally important concerns in what is often an idiotic screaming match between ill-informed half-wits. (C) This is just cool.

Third, hopefully you started reading Eichmann. The book can be difficult, as I have mentioned previously, not least because of its subject matter. For Tuesday have everything (including the Introduction) up through, but not including, chapter VIII read. Take it home with you over Thanksgiving.

Finally, we need to chat about the final paper assignment, as we only have four (*gasp*) regular class periods before the end of the semester. The final paper topic is simple, which in a way makes it more difficult. You are wrapping three semesters studying the history of philosophy, religion, history, etc., in the West. Yet the course is not meant to be a humanities survey, but as the title specifically states it is meant to be a "search for values." Thus, I would like you to write about what you have learned. Using texts from all three semesters (though leaning more heavily on our current semester), you will write a fifteen page paper due on Monday, December 14th. Although that date is three weeks from now, and although a research paper assignment given within that length of time might seem atypical, remember that this is not a research paper. Rather, you should have been thinking about the topic all along. We will talk more about the assignment during the next class period.

Cheers,

-W.