This course covers the history of the major intellectual movements of the modern era in the West from the Renaissance to the late 20th century, focusing on developments in science, the arts, and political philosophy in western Europe. The course covers major issues in philosophy, the arts (fine art, music, and literature) and popular thought in the context of their times. The course reviews the birth of philosophical thought in the ancient Western world through the Middle Ages. It then covers Renaissance challenges to traditional thinking, the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, early political philosophy, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Conservatism, Liberalism, Democracy, Socialism, modern irrationalism in political thinking, nationalism, antisemitism, fascism, totalitarianism, communism, modernism, post-modernism and other strands of Western thought. Student will read about these movements along with selections written by the original authors (in English translation).
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
This course is defined by Georgia Tech as a "Core IMPACTS course" that is part of the Social Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I understand human experiences and connections?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.