Mirror Sites:
CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: June 6, 2001
Latest update: October 18, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

Social Theory Readings
Week of October 15, 2001: Week 8

• Online Readings:
  • Pirate Nietzche Page Links to Nietzche's writings online and to essays.
  • Reactions to Our Own Artwork and to Photos of the September 11 Event
  • Reactions to Terrorist/Victim Portraits. Includes jeanne's comments on conceptual linking.
  • More Reactions to Terrorist/Victim Portraits. Includes poster Erika found of Bin Laden/Sikh portrait making the rounds of the Internet.

• Hardcopy Readings:

  Readings in Social Theory, ed. by James Farganis:

  • "Introduction to Section on Nietzsche: Reason and Power" pp. 91-94.
  • "Nietzsche: Thus Spake Zarathustra", pp. 95-101.
    Read at least enough to get a feeling for the poetry in Nietzche's style.
  • "Introduction to Max Weber: The Iron Cage" pp. 102-106.
  • "Max Weber: Bureaucracy and Education", p.121-124.

• Some Suggested Measures of Learning:

  Comment on one of the following topics, or do something of your own choosing.

  1. Why is Nietzsche identified with postmodernism?

     Consider his concern that the bougeoisie is apparently willing to follloow along with the dominant discourse and engage in the complicity of denial.

  2. What does Nietzsche mean by the Superman or Uebermensch?

     Consider Nietzsche's burning motivation to work, to create, not to follow the set out path of the ordinary.

  3. What do I mean when I say that for a B or better grade you must conceptually link to concepts and discussions from the site, your text, and/or classroom discussions?

     Consider my comments on conceptual linking in responding to your submissions.

• Theoretical Concepts You Should Know:

  dominant discourse

  1. How is dominant discourse related to reactions to the attack on the US?
     • Consider patriotism and nation-state solidarity.
     • Consider spiritual unease and intolerance for "other religions" or "no religion."
     • Consider the comments of some of our students from Soka University Japan that perhaps there is much they must learn about the Middle East.

  2. How is dominant discourse related to postcolonialism?
     • Consider that in colonialism the language of the colonizing country is the official language.
     • Consider that in colonialism, education of the colonized is often carefully limited: information control.
     • Consider the importance this suggests for the dominance of language.