2024–25 HIP: Fall Course

What is Democracy?

September 30; October 2, 7, 9, 16, & 21; November 6
6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
In person at Oregon Humanities’ office (610 SW Alder Street, Portland)
1 credit (Bard College)

Instructor: Adam Davis

Through a mix of political philosophy and literature, this one-credit course will explore democracy as a political and cultural form and as an aspiration. Readings will include excerpts from Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Danielle Allen’s Our Declaration, Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson,” Abraham Rodriguez Jr’s “The Boy without a Flag,” and Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, among others. Through close reading and participatory discussion, we will inquire into what it means for a people to constitute and rule themselves, where we set limits to participation, and the hopes and risks associated with democracy. And we’ll do this against the backdrop of this fall's highly contested and significant local and national elections.

Registration 

Priority Registration Date: September 9, 2024
Final Registration Date: September 30, 2024

Please note that this is not a competitive registration process. While you may enroll up to the start date of the course(s), signing up before the Priority Registration Date increases your chances of reserving a spot in the course. 

Space is limited for each course, so we ask that you please let us know if you decide to drop the course so that we can open that space for another student. If we are unable to reach you via that contact information you provide, we will cancel your registration. 

Click here to register


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