Agenda+-+Day+Eleven

Today's Assignment:

 * **Read chapter one in Hillman.**
 * **Read chapter two, three, or four, depending on which discussion group you were in on 4/2.**

**Introduction:**

 * **Hand back r****esearch plans**
 * **Comments on plans, other business**

**Activity One: Discussion**

 * **Hillman, Chapter One, "War is Normal"**
 * **What is the "mission" of the book**
 * **How have history, philosophy, and biology failed to develop a comprehensive understanding of war?**
 * **Hillman quotes Tolstoy on page 6, noting that seeking into the causes of war does not illuminate the meaning of war. What does this mean?**
 * **Hillman urges penetration to the mythic level and a "leap of imagination" in addressing the "normality" and meaning of war. The Iliad is riddled with myth, the Dani's war is perpetuated by myth, Hedges leans heavily on myth and mythic themed literature, Grossman refers repeatedly to myth and myths particular in noting the connection between sexual behavior and killing. McNamera, however, does not address either the meaning nor the mythic level of war, limiting himself to conclusions as to the conduct of war. The central inquiry in this class as stated on the first day of class is to grapple with the enigma of war, to come to a closer understanding of how war, universally decried and a present existential threat to all humanity, continues. In addressing Hillman's work, the central questions are"**
 * **Is he "on to something?"**
 * **What are the implications?**
 * **To each of us individually**
 * **To collective entities, social institutions**
 * **To leaders and policy makers**
 * **Issues Hillman raises in Chapter One beyond the centrality of myth - As regards these, is he onto something and what are the implications?**
 * **He notes that war is normal in that it is ubiquitous through history and spread throughout the world**
 * **He indicates that the language indicates normality as meaning "what is" but slipping towards "what ought to be" as though ordained by God.**
 * **He characterizes "peace' in these terms: //amnesia, denial, fantasy, nai//****//vete, repression, ig//****//norance, numbing//, etc. and notes that the word "peace, itself is a vacuum, with war as it's underpinning and origin.**
 * **He inquires into whether war is "lodged in human nature" or "inherent in societies." He answers - both, focusing on**
 * **imagining the enemy in the individual psyche**
 * **ideas that politics (collective social control - power) is war by other means and war is politics enforcing control though force**
 * **the idea that monopoly on violence creates the state**
 * **He ends indicating that war is permanent and that "being reveals itself in war" but indicates that war is not everything, that being reveals itself in beauty, music, the natural world of seas and mountains, plants and animals, etc.**

**Activity Two:**

 * Break into the three groups as assigned last week.**
 * **Discuss the chapter you read (2, 3, or 4).**
 * **Prepare a thorough** **introdu****ction of the chapter for the rest of the class this should**
 * **Note the major points Hillman makes in the chapter**
 * **use some of his examples in explaining his points**
 * **connect the chapter to the mission of the book**
 * **connect the chapter to earlier work in this class**
 * **draw judgements on the implications of the chapter**
 * Break: **

**Activity Three:**

 * The three groups make their presentations**
 * **During each presentation, the "audience' should listen closely, perhaps taking notes**
 * **All students should**
 * **focus on connections and themes that have run through the course to date**
 * **comparisons and contrasts among the viewpoints we've seen**
 * **implications of the conclusions whether stated or implicit in each assigned reading or film.**

Assignment for 4/16

 * Review Hillman's work in its entirety
 * Come prepared to discuss this and the "place" of Hillman and the other authors in the context of this course
 * Come prepared to make a five minute report to me (Dr. T) and your fellow students as to:
 * The progress you have made on your research project including
 * changes in scope and or focus
 * issues you have resolved
 * issues you are addressing
 * problems you are having.
 * sources you've added or abandoned
 * your plan as to
 * finishing the research phase
 * timing as to the writing of your findings
 * Please write up a set of notes you'll be using in your report - the notes can take any form - an outline, a set of bullet points, a series of 'reminder" words, a "script" in full sentences, etc. I will use this as a memory aid in assessing ways I can provide useful feedback or direction