Encyclopédie of Ideal Forms assignment sheet

​Encyclopédie of Ideal Forms assignment sheet          
History of Thought 1 
 
For each unit, you will write multi-part Encyclopédie (EIF) entries, differing in length depending on whether you chose 10, 20, or 30 pages to read. Here is what I am expecting this to look like (and what I mean by multi-part):

1. First, you need to think critically about the texts that you have read and decide what larger topic they are engaging. These topics will be easy to find on our Enlightenment and Greek readings because they are organized as such, and more difficult with Renaissance, Roman, and Religion. 
   1. You can deviate from how the book categorizes the text, i.e. instead of Crime and Punishment for Montesquieu’s “The Severity of Criminal Laws,”you could easily shift the focus to Laws or Criminality. You will take that topic and write two entries
   2. If you read from multiple sections, Crime and then also Gender, then you will be responsible for multiple entries, but the same word count.
2. Next, you will define the topic as it is dealt with by the text—you will define Crime and Punishment or Gender according to the author, i.e. paraphrase what theysay. Do this in your own words[1]. This will be the same discussion you lead with me one-on-one when we meet to discuss your reading[2].
   1. This section should be 100, 200 or 300 words. Meaning, maybe you read 5 texts and are shooting for a C… therefore 20 words on each of them(not including titles/names). Maybe you read 1 text and for an A you would need to write 300 words about it (feel free to go over these limits but never under).
3. Third, you will create an ideal definition. What yousay? This does not you get free license to spout opinions—your entry must demonstrate your critical intelligence, your logic, and your attempt to conceive the ideal. In other words, in an ideal society, you would engage with these types of questions (not exhaustive but the ones you see most fitting and connected to the text): What should the state do with criminals? How does punishment work to protect the rights of citizens? Is punishment effective—what type? What should we do with murderers? Feel free to nod to other thinkers, as I would to answer this last question, see example below.
   1. This should be 100, 200, or 300 words (feel free to go over these limits but never under).
4. Lastly, make this entry in our shared google doc so all the world can share in your enlightenment. 
   

Example: 
Crime and Punishment

• In Baron de Montesquieu’s“The Severity of Criminal Laws,” he argues …There must be a balance between the nature of what one has done and the nature of the punishment—they must relate in order to demonstrate on a social scale what was wrong with the action so that all of society can prosper from the example and feel a rational conclusion and extension form the nature of the act itself. It will take a judicial system to figure out the nature of the crime, meaning the injustice as incurred by the victim, for there are no victimless crimes. FI this is not the case, then reason will not prevail, and it is only reason which binds us together into society, and it is society itself which must remain enact, fully functioning, beneficial, and worthy of each humans’ participation and adherence to ensuing laws. (135 words, perfect for a C)

 

• I believe that society goes to far to correct the behaviors of its citizens and instead of a heavy punishing hand, crimes should be met with a spirit of and wisdom for healing. I paraphrase Sister Helen Prejean’s notion that the state should exemplify the morals and laws it decrees and therefore no capital punishment should occur, instead I believe the state should look to assist with healing for those involved because we have so many reports of deep human transformation which occurs in these scenarios with all parties involved and a system of support and wisdom will further along a healthy transformation, offering perspective, not revenge, which furthers the health of the society instead of a hypocritic notion of we can do this but you cannot which only justifies the aberrant behavior to begin with. (134 words, for a C)
  • In this example, I am writing to show my thinking, employing a persuasive, thorough, intellectual writing style. Please, feel free to write however best will demonstrate your divergent engagement with the topic, however best suits your attempt to demonstrate your critical thinking.  These entries can be absurd, satirical, humorous, detailed, argumentative, persuasive, technical, include images/drawings/sounds/hyperlinks/memes—the key is the must always be on point with engagement of the ideal and they must demonstrate intelligence (your intelligence please, not someone else’s.) 
    

Due Dates
Enlightenment: Wednesday 2/6
Renaissance: Monday 2/25
Rome: Wednesday 3/20
Greece: Monday 4/8
Religion Monday 4/29