RE 103 OC Love and its Myths Course Syllabus Instructor Adrian Langdon Course Description Welcome to RE 103 DE,

"Love and its Myths". This course will introduce you to the field of religious studies, specifically to theories about the origin and function of myths, Greek myths in particular. It will also introduce you to a philosophic tradition of thinking about love known as the ascent tradition. Topics include: theories of myth, their function and importance; the ancient Greek heritage of love in myth; good love versus bad love; the love of wisdom; Christianity and love; narcissism, patriotism, and cosmopolitanism. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course you should be able to: Explain how myth is studied and used in various contexts and communities. Describe the difference between myths, legends, sagas, and folktales. Explain how myths are taken to be paradigms or models that say how and why things came into existence. Explain in your own words the connection between myths, human consciousness, and spiritual development. Identify some of the main problems and limitations associated with a psychological understanding of the function and meaning of myths. Describe the main features of the Homeric worldview of ancient Greece. Describe in your own words at least two accounts of the origin of love in ancient Greek religion Describe how love was understood when it was seen as the work of the goddess Aphrodite in ancient Greek religion. Explain in your own words the connections between myths of creation, love, and being itself. You should also be able to understand and explain some of the problems of thinking about love only in terms of feeling or emotion. Explain in your own words the nature and purpose of two mythic accounts or traditional stories of what love is, what it is for, and how it works Tell the difference between four different kinds of love, and explain the main features of a Christian account of love developed in the mid-20th century. Define using your own words cosmopolitanism and patriotism, and to see where they oppose and/or compliment one another. Express a preference (with reasons) for a moral education that is based either on cosmopolitanism or on national character. Explain why a moral education should require an alignment and ordering of our particular attachments and loves Describe in your own words the connection between erotic love and politics, and to describe the results of severing this link.

Orientation Materials on the Internet Library and Information Services (for distance education students) http://www.wlu.ca/wwwlib/libinfo/distref/ Online Learning Guide (provides information on midterms, finals, assignments, etc.) http://www.wlu.ca/pts/disted/guide.shtml> WebCT Login Page http://www.wlu.ca/webct Course Tools and Learning Materials I. Texts: C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves (Harcourt/Harvest Book) Plato, The Symposium, translated with an introduction by Christopher Gill (Penguin Books) II. Internet Resources: ABC National Radio Transcripts, "The Myth of Joseph Campbell" Homer, The Iliad, selections from Book III and Book IV Selections from Hesiod (Theogony) Empedocles fragments and commentary "The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite" Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit - Part One III. Coursepack: Joseph Cambell, Preface, and Myth and Dream from The Hero with a Thousand Faces Mircea Eliade, Myth=Paradigmatic Model, The Sacred and the Profane, pp. 95-99 Mary Lefkowitz, Greek Gods, Human Lives: What We Can Learn from Myths Introduction and Chapter One, "Origins" G.S. Kirk, The Nature of Greek Myths - Chapter One, "Problems of Definition"; Chapter Two, "The Relation of Myths to Folktales" Paul Tillich, Love, Power and Justice - Chapter Two, "Being and Love: The Ontological Question". Martha Nussbaum: Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism Michael McConnell: "Dont Neglect the Little Platoons" IV. Films: "Casablanca" "The English Patient" Student Evaluation Group work quizzes and written assignments 45 points Three individual quizzes 40 points Short Essay (500 words) 10 points Major Essay (1500 words) 15 points TOTAL 110 points Group quizzes and reports are worth 45 points. The total maximum number of points for the course is 110, which I will then convert to a mark out of 100 (%) at the end of the course.

Weekly Schedule of Learning Activities, Quizzes & Assignments Week 1 (Lesson 1) 1.1.1 Your own thoughts about myth 1.1.2 View the learning tips videos 1.1.3 Five controversial theories about what myths are 1.1.4 Test yourself: Telling the difference between myths, legends, folktales 1.2.1 Myths are models of whats important and how it got here Week 2 (Lesson 1) 1.3 Meet your study group (group assignment) 1.4.1 Joseph Campbell versus Mary Lefkowitz QUIZ 1 (individual) on Lesson 1 (worth 15 points) Week 3 (Lesson 2) 2.1.1 Reading and Checking Comprehension with Hesiods Theogony 2.1.2 Reading and Checking Comprehension with Homer QUIZ 2 (group) on Lesson 2 (worth 15 points) Week 4 (Lesson 3) 3.1.1 Discerning the main themes in Empedocles 3.2.1 Key Moments in Tillichs Argument Short Essay (individual) 500 words (worth 10 points) due at end of Week 4 Week 5 (Lesson 4) 4.1 Can We Learn to Love? (group assignment, worth 5 points) 4.1.1 Two Myths of Love in The Symposium Week 6 (Lesson 4) 4.2.1 Key moments in Diotimas teaching QUIZ 3 (group) on Lesson 4 (worth 10 points) Week 7 (Lesson 5) 5.1.1 Questioning the Meaning of Some Very Old Words (group assignment, worth 5 points) 5.1.2 A Christian Thinker Considers Affection 5.2.1 A Christian Thinker Considers Friendship Week 8 (Lesson 5) 5.3.1 A Christian Thinker Considers Eros 5.4.1 A Christian Thinker Considers Divine Love QUIZ 4 (individual) on Lesson 5 (worth 10 points) Week 9 (Lesson 6) 6.1.1 My Country, Right or Wrong (group assignment, worth 5 points) 6.1.2 Nussbaum's Prescription for a Better World

Week 10 (Lesson 6) 6.2.1 McConnell's Path to a Better World 6.2.2 Comparing Nussbaum and McConnell Major Essay Assignment (individual, worth 15 points, due at end of Week 12) Week 11 (Lesson 7) 7.1.1 Have You Seen These Movies Before? (group assignment worth 5 points) 7.1.2 Before Viewing Casablanca 7.1.3 Analyzing "Casablanca" Week 12 (Lesson 7) 7.2.1 Before Viewing The English Patient QUIZ 5 (individual) on Lesson 7 (worth 15 points) Course and University Policies (the first three are university statements) 1. Academic Misconduct (cheating): The University has an established policy with respect to cheating on assignments and examinations, which the student is required to know. Students are cautioned that in addition to a failure in the course, a student may be suspended or expelled from the University for cheating and the offence may appear on ones transcript, in which event the offence can have serious consequences for ones business or professional career see: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1365&s_id=1455&sb_id=2261 . 2. Special Needs: Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Lauriers Accessible Learning Centre see: http://www.mylaurier.ca/accessible.htm for information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Calendar see: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1365&s_id=1455&sb_id=2261 for information regarding all services available on campus. 3. Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be asked to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism. 4. Contacting the Instructor: refer to the course website 5. Late Assignment Policy: You are responsible for completing assignments and activities in a timely fashion. For your all assignments, including group and individual quizzes, short essay, major essay assignments, a total of 2 points will be deducted from your total assignment value for each day that it is late (including Saturday and Sundays)