Online Course: The Modern and The Postmodern (Part 1) Wesleyan University

Hello friends,

     

      Recently I have completed my online course of “The Modern and The Postmodern (Part 1)” from Wesleyan University and secured 100% score.

Here is the screenshot of an e-mail which I have received by Coursera:

      This is the third course which I have completed. The learning experience was very good. Online learning is the best way to learn. It gives me pleasure every time I learn. There is not any kind of partiality and the process of learning is student friendly.

      

      In this course I have secured 100%. There were 7 weeks and 3 writing assignments. The system of grading and evaluation was different than two other courses which I have completed. There were strict rules regarding submitting assignments and plagiarism. Words limit was 800 per assignment. There were three criteria in which peers have to give marks out of 3 points,

Here are instructions:

Argument Feedback: Did the student develop a point of view in the essay by moving from premises to conclusion using evidence and logic?

Evidence Feedback: Did the student use quotations or examples from the reading assigned for the week to support their argument?

Exposition Feedback: Evaluate the quality of the writing. Look for clarity of thought and an organized essay structure. The writing should be understandable, but do not deduct for errors of grammar or spelling that do not impede the reader's understanding. Keep in mind that English is a second or third language for many students, and take this into account when grading.

Here are assignments which I have submitted.

1)    Instructions

         How did Kant define Enlightenment? Use Kant’s definition to discuss whether either Rousseau or Marx is an Enlightenment figure. In other words, choose one of the following comparisons to write about: Kant compared to Rousseau, OR Kant compared to Marx.

The essay response should be no more than 800 words.

I have selected “Kant’s definition of Enlightenment and Kant’s comparison to Rousseau”

Week 3 - Assignment 1

2) Instructions

       

    Compare the role of historical progress in the ideas of two of the following: Kant, Rousseau, Marx, Flaubert. In your essay, you should put the emphasis on role, not on an accounting of specific progress.

The essay response should be no more than 800 words.

    I have selected “Compare the role of historical progress in the ideas of two of the following: Marx and Flaubert.”

Week 4 – Assignment 2

3) Instructions

       

       Respond to one of the two following prompts Darwin wrote that: "Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin." Compare Darwin's view of the persistent effects of the past with at least one other writer covered so far in the course (please try to write about someone you haven't written about in the previous assignments).

OR

Describe how Darwin makes use of the intellectual traditions of utilitarianism and romanticism in his work. Compare this use to how another thinker makes use of the past in his or her own work (this can be anyone covered so far in the course, but please try to write about someone you haven't written about in the previous assignments).

The essay response should be no more than 800 words.

I have selected “Describe how Darwin makes use of the intellectual traditions of utilitarianism and romanticism in his work. Darwin and Romantics - William Wordsworth”

Week 6 – Assignment 3

      

 I wanted to complete at least three online courses during my post graduation. I have achieved that goal. Still I am not satisfied and want to enroll more and more courses.

The Modern and The Postmodern - Week 6 – Third Writing Assignment

For more information about course – Click here

Describe how Darwin makes use of the intellectual traditions of utilitarianism and romanticism in his work. Darwin and Romantics - William Wordsworth

Darwin was writing in middle of the 19^th century. Jeremy Bentham was the father of Utilitarianism. He was writing in eighteenth century. Utilitarianism includes thinking of social life. But Romanticism rejects this idea. As Darwin said,

“It is difficult to believe in the dreadful but quite war lurking just below the serene façade of nature”
-         Charles Darwin, 1839

What is Utilitarianism?
      
    Utilitarianism is the measurement of ‘utility’. ‘Utility’ is the measurement of all pleasures which a person has got from actions. It id also defined as

 “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong”.
-           - Jeremy Bentham, A Fragment on Government

      Utilitarians are against God and they are interested into find a measurable reason why a certain practice is legitimate. Utilitarianism is for,

“Developing a rational schema for evaluating all practices and beliefs without resources to any essences or substance, avoiding as scrupulously as possible all those things that can not be measured”

Darwin vs. Wordsworth
     
      Darwin was looking towards nature as a biologist and as a cataloger of the variety of species. He was focusing on extraordinary richness of nature. Romantics were looking towards nature as something with which people can interact and feel intensity. Darwin was looking towards nature with the perspective of genealogy and Romantics were more sensitive towards the Mother Nature.  
     
       As per Darwin, the present is the key to the past. He wanted to investigate everything and he also investigated it. On the other hand for Romantics, nature was the key of joy. They were busy in enjoying the nature rather than investigating. That’s why they have rejected the idea of Darwin. But Wordsworth was also frustrated with the notion of war and revolution. For him, it was disillusionment of art and he also wrote it in The Prelude,

“Twas in truth and hour
of universal ferment; Mildest men
 were agitated; and commotion, strife
of passion and opinion, filled the wall
 of peaceful houses with unique sounds.
The soil of common life, was, at that time
too hot to tread upon.”
-         William Wordsworth, The Prelude, ix, 163-9
    
      Darwin was interested in what we achieve and results of the investigation and Romantics were interested in how we achieve and the process of achieving. For Romantics, Utilitarianism was clearly rejected and this is one of major reason that measurement of pleasure is not possible.

       Darwin has used these two views as the background of his work. He investigated the truth by focusing on illusions. Darwin is a traditional scientist, and also have a lovely wonder towards nature and that is that reason that he is connected with Romantics. Darwin was focusing on natural essence of species. He has used scientific approaches to nature like genealogy and many more. He wrote that,

“False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views if supported by some evidence. Do little harm for everyone takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness: and when this is done, one path towards error is closed and the road to truth is often at the same time opened.”

     Thus, Darwin has used the background of Utilitarianism and Romanticism as the background of his work and talked about  Naturalization of morality.

The Modern and The Postmodern - Week 4 – Second Writing Assignment

For more information about course – Clickhere

Compare the role of historical progress in the ideas of two of the following: Marx and Flaubert.

1) The role of Flaubert:
      
      Flaubert was believed that “When you wake up to history, you realize you should retreat to art. Get rid of your illusions and go to art and aesthetics.” The example of this statement is his own novel, ‘Madame Bovary’ which is translated by Lydia Davis.
    
     By writing this novel and presenting a conflict of Romanticism in the characters of the novel, Flaubert has played an important role in historical progress. There is a development of characters from history to present and romance. Ultimately they reject it also. In the novel ‘education’ has played a vital role in the life of Charles and Emma. Charles was attracted by the knowledge and education of Emma. There is a description of Emma,

“As it was almost empty she leaned back to drink, and with her head back, her lips thrust out, her neck tense, she laughed at feeling nothing, while the tip of her tongue, passing between her delicate teeth, licked with little stabs at the bottom of the glass”
       -   Madame Bovary (trans. Lydia Davis)
            
     The line that she laughed at the feeling of nothing, suggests the essence of Romanticism. Charles was impressed by the nature of Emma and he was in the world of fantasy, but till the end of the novel he was in illusion. He was not aware with the love affairs of Emma and when he came to know he died. Flaubert has presented two sides of Romanticism, illusion and reality. The character of Pharmacist, Homais presents the Enlightenment. Charles presents the submissive nature and history and classicism.
      
        Flaubert understands romanticism very well.  He can write romantic prose well. But he also rejects it. He thinks it leads to stupidity and cliché. The Role of Flaubert is as romanticist but he also rebels against it. In the novel with the death of Emma, romantic illusion dies away. For Flaubert, expressing the reality in a proper form is important, which later became important in Modernism also.

2) The role of Marx:
       
        Marx has brought change in the thinking of people by publishing his manifesto.  By his Manifesto he tried to bring the change, but the process of change is a very painful process. He has published the manifesto in 1847 and 1848. Marx was aware with the struggle of poor class, middle class as well as working class, and he explained it well,

“The present generation is like the Jews whom Moses led through the wilderness. It not only has a new world to conquer, it must go under in order to make room for the men who are able to cope with a new world.”
     - The Class Struggle in France.
      
   Marx has given a way of thinking to people. After that he has played a role as an observant. He observed that the revolution has started with a good enthusiasm in February but in June it has taken a turn towards ugliness. As he observed,

 “The February revolution was the beautiful revolution, the revolution of universal sympathy. The June revolution is the ugly revolution, the nasty revolution, because the phrases have given place to the real things”
- The Class Struggle in France.

   In the French revolution three words liberty, equality and fraternity were important, but as per Marx says that they really meant were infantry, cavalry and artillery. After the failure of revolution in 1852, Marx has started think about economical law rather than class struggle.
    
      After focusing on the role of Marx and Flaubert, it can be concluded that Marx was focusing on the science of economics by observing history and Flaubert had a focus upon present and wanted to move away from the history.

Here are Reviews:

The Modern and The Postmodern - Week 3 – First Writing Assignment

For more information about course – Click here

Kant’s definition of Enlightenment and Kant’s comparison to Rousseau

1)   How Kant did define Enlightenment?
       
      Kant’s two worlds are Noumenal and Phenomenal. As per Kant the world can be seen by the glasses of constructed society in our mind. In our mind we have constructed one image of society, and Enlightenment is to question this construction. Kant says, “Sapere Aude!” (Dare to know), it clearly suggests the self-development. All human beings should have courage to give their own reasons and this is the best model of Enlightenment for Kant. It gives an ability to think for own self. “Have courage to use your own mind!” This is the motto of Enlightenment.
Further he explained that,

 “Men work themselves gradually out of barbarity if only intentional artifices are not made to hold them in it”
-       What Is Enlightenment?

Another point he gives is,

“Argue as much as you like and about whatever you like, but obey!”
-       What Is Enlightenment?

 Kant wanted to make room for faith and have reason limited. As per him men should work themselves but also gradually.

Finally his definition of Enlightenment is,

“Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage...”
-       What Is Enlightenment?

It is about “dare to know” and “Have courage to use own mind”.

2)    Kant compared to Rousseau
    
     If there is a comparison between Kant and Rousseau, there are lots of differences we could find. Kant was a big fan of Rousseau but there is a difference between thinking process and perspective towards of both towards Enlightenment. The major difference is,
Kant – becoming a man of thinking, develop the daring to know the things and try to be a courageous enough to use own mind, but with obeying.
Rousseau - thinks that modernity was a great mistake, and we have to find a cure for that. He understands the enlightenment and rejects it.
    
      As per Kant the enlightenment is the process of self development and makes people to think about what they are doing and what they should do. He gives the theory of two worlds, the phenomenal world and the noumenal world. He wanted to steer a middle course, between skepticism and science. Skepticism tries to find out the truth within the world and science tries to find the truth out of the world. Enlightenment has provided a power to man to think about the world from inside as well as outside. Once the person would enter in the society with thinking, a person would be able to think on the laws and construction with his/her own perspective. As Kant says,

“The touchstone of everything that can be concluded as a law for a people lies in the question whether the people could have imposed such a law on itself.”
-       What Is Enlightenment?

        On the other hand, Rousseau gives the understanding of Enlightenment in different way. As per him, the person would not think freely. There would be a freedom of thinking in the process of enlightenment but there will be a great loss of morality and humanity. He explains that, the arts and sciences cover up our oppression and make us forget that we are not free. Rousseau in his first discourse says that, the arts and sciences do not promote knowledge and understanding, they promote tyranny and inequality. As per Rousseau the laws which are constructed for men’s well-being, are controlled by sciences. As he explained in Discourse on the sciences and Arts,

“While the Government and the Laws see to the safety and the well-being of men assembled, the sciences, Letters and Arts, less despotic and perhaps more powerful, spread garlands of flowers over the iron chains with which they are laden, throttle in them the sentiments of that original freedom for which they seemed born, make them love their slavery, and fashion them into what is called civilized people”
-      Discourse on the sciences and Arts

         Kant focuses upon the individual thinking of a man and Rousseau gives a statement that individual thinking cannot be develop much. As per him people are getting further and further away than they naturally should be because Arts and Sciences provided luxuries and it creates new dependency complexes. When people will see scientists and other scholars they will imitate them and will try to be someone else they are not. Thus, they will leave their own identity.

        These were the problems stated by Kant and Rousseau, now if we focus upon solutions; both have given different solutions of these problems.
Kant: Men should work themselves but gradually out of barbarity if only intentional artifices are not made to hold them in it.
Rousseau: Learned men of the first rank should be brought in to the political establishment.
  
      Kant gives responsibility to men. As per him men should decide and work by understanding of own self. On the other side Rousseau is very clear that only learned man can be the cure of the disease of corruption and strong influence of Sciences.
  
     If we discuss the definition of Kant with reference with Rousseau, we can say that Rousseau is right on his side in one or the other way because he is thinking about the mass man of modern society and how individuals would lose their individuality under the pressure of fashion, sciences and arts.

Here are Scores:

Here are Reviews: