HIST 337: History, Ethics, Modernity

collage with the scales of justice weighing in with history and communication

Instructor: Elizabeth MacGonagle

Day & Time:
Online | 1st Half

Fulfills:
KU Core Goal 5.1
Core 34 Goal AH
HIST Cat I/II

History, Ethics, Modernity 

This course explores critical historical contexts for understanding social responsibility and modern ethical behavior. We will discuss the idea of “human dignity” and its implications for social behavior across time and space. Through an analysis of historical case studies, we will evaluate the role of conformity and non-conformity with ethical principles in defining the trajectories of broader historical processes. Students will also gain a humanistic perspective of health, science, and technology to interpret key issues related to global health and medical humanities. Assignments and discussions will assist students in improving their writing and communication skills.

See How this Course Fits into Your Schedule  

Official Catalog Description:

  • This course will examine how human dignity is preserved and violated in the modern age.

  • Cast in a global framework, themes may include the history of human rights; the moral universe of health and wellbeing, and narratives of genocide and collective resistance.

  • Themes could also include the shifting status and treatment of the poor and the colonized; and the impact of changing technology on ethics in medicine, science, and the environment.