Syllabus for US Intellectual History II  (2007)

Intellectual history is another name for the history of ideas. The study of intellectual history is an interdisciplinary project that includes literature, political thought, social thought, religion, philosophy, legal thought and other relevant areas--all wrapped into one. The goal is to draw a connection between the experience of life--the political, economic, and technological changes in the country in various eras--and the ideas that are created to explain and negotiate the reality of that particular period. Unlike some forms of history, which are little more than memorization of dates and events, the history of ideas instead asks students to assess and interact with the ideas and values of the culture in which they live. The history of ideas can provide students with what they sometimes miss in their education, and that is a firm knowledge of the commitments, ideologies, and traits of our country. Students finish the class with a far better knowledge of why our cultural life and beliefs are the way they are. Because this course teaches the basics of American thought, it provides students with the tools either to challenge or endorse parts of American culture. No particular expertise is required to perform well in this course.