Readings

Unless noted otherwise, all texts in:

Weber, Eugen. The Western Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Renaissance to the Present. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1994. ISBN: 9780669394436.

SES # READINGS KEY DATES
1 Introduction (none)  
2

Luther, Martin. "The Ninety-Five Theses." (Gutenberg text)

———. "On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church."

———. "The Twelve Articles of Peasants."

Calvin, John. "The Institutes of the Christian Church." (Excerpts)

  
3

Galilei, Galileo. "Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina."

———. "What is Scientific Authority?" (Excerpts)

  
4 Descartes, Rene. "Discourse Upon Method." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)  
5 Hobbes, Thomas. "The Leviathan." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text) First essay is due
6 Locke, John. "The Second Treatise of Government." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)  
7 Baron de Montesquieu. "The Spirit of the Laws." (Excerpts)  
8 Baron de Montesquieu. Persian Letters. (Excerpts)  
9 Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. "The Social Contract." (Excerpts) (Wikisource text) Revision of first essay is due
10 Hume, David. "The Essay on Miracles." (Excerpts)  
11 Kant, Immanuel. "What is Enlightenment?"  
12

Frederick the Great. "The Political Testament of Frederick II."

———. "Forms of Government." (Excerpts)

  
13

"Decree of the French National Assembly Abolishing the Feudal System."

"The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen." (Wikisource text)

  
14

de Gouges, Olympe. "Declaration of the Rights of Women and Female Citizens." (Wikisource text)

de Robespierre, Maximilien. "Notes."

———. "Democracy and Terror."

  
15

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the French Revolution." (Excerpts) (Wikisource text)

"The Holy Alliance."

 Second essay is due
16

Madame de Stäel. "Romanticism." (Excerpts)

Blake, William. "Mock on, Mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau." (Wikisource text)

Wordsworth, William. "London." (Wikisource text)

  
17 Smith, Adam. "The Wealth of Nations." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)  
18 Marx, Karl. "The Communist Manifesto." (Gutenberg text)  
19

Mill, John Stuart. "Essay on Utilitarianism." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)

———. "On Liberty." (Excerpts) (Wikisource text)

  
20

Kropotkin, Pietr. "Anarchism: Its Philosophy and Ideal." (Excerpts)

von Bismarck, Otto. "A Speech to the Prussian Budget Commission."

———. "On State Interference."

 Third essay is due
21

Nietzsche, Friedrich. "Beyond Good and Evil." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)

———. "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)

  
22

Freud, Sigmund. "Civilization and its Discontents." (Excerpts/Copies)

———. "Dream Psychology." (Excerpts) (Gutenberg text)

  
23

Hitler, Adolf. "Mein Kampf." (Excerpts)

Mussolini, Benito. "The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism."

  
24 Levi, Primo. "Survival in Auschwitz." (Excerpts/Copies)  
25 Adorno, Theodor, and Max Horkheimer. The Dialectics of Enlightenment. (Excerpts/Copies)  
26 Conclusions Fourth essay is due