HON 339 - Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Moral Rebels

Must be an Honors student or have permission from the professor and Honors Director to take this class. Why do some humans choose violence and commit atrocities and other forms of injustice? Why do many humans remain passive and complicit bystanders? Why do only a few people find the courage and resilience to become moral rebels and act to address injustice? This course addresses these questions through a critical analysis of important social themes (e.g., identity, conformity, & “we/they” thinking) linked to key historical narratives (e.g., genocides and other gross violations of human rights including gender-based violence in conflict zones), with an emphasis on learning inquiry and participatory approaches to understanding human experiences. In this course, we read accounts, view documentaries, and talk face-to-face with the people who are survivors and rescuers and who made courageous choices in response to atrocities. As students study the lessons of “difficult” histories, reflect on their identity, and consider postmodern perspectives and critical alternatives to the dominant narratives that perpetuate violence and inaction, they learn to make the essential connections between historical decisions and the moral choices they confront in their own lives. Letter grade. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits