Good and Evil :Concepts and Realities

Description: Are the concepts of good and evil helpful for understanding the social world? Through both fictional illustrations and partial accounts of actual events, we often form judgments about “good” and “evil” thoughts, actions, and people. Can such judgments be justified? In this two-quarter program, we will study different conceptions of good and evil, and examine how these accounts can help us to understand individual and collective human behavior and motivation. Winter quarter will focus on developing a rich understanding of historical, philosophical accounts as well as psychological theories of good and evil, and placing these in contemporary context in our society. Students continuing in spring quarter will deepen and extend their theoretical understanding as well as delve into activities and community project work that appropriately connects theory to personal and social practice. This will be difficult work, as we will challenge our well-established cognitive structures through intensive writing and seminar and engage in activities that can alter or broaden thought-response patterns.

Note: This is a two-quarter program. Students who want to take full benefit of all that this program offers should plan to enroll for both quarters.

Cranach, Tree of Knowledge [of Good and Evil] (1472)