HIST119

Description

This course explores one of the oldest and most profound questions: what does it mean to be human? We will tackle this question by considering three overlapping topics: the dividing line between humans and non-humans, practices of dehumanization and resistance, and how we express our humanity. We will consider a wide range of perspectives including history, biology, computer science, philosophy, art history, music, religion, theater, and literature. This class is interdisciplinary but it also fulfills the historical perspective. As such, we ground our explorations in both theoretical readings from diverse disciplines, and historical primary and secondary sources. Through discussion, writing, and a final project, we will explore the tensions between discourse and action in our understanding of what constitutes the essential markers of humanity. By the end of the course, students will not only gain a richer understanding of the historical and present-day debates surrounding human identity but will also reflect on their own place within these ongoing conversations.