UBS 199 Student AssessmentBasic 1Developing 2Proficient 3Mastery1. Think critically using multiple modes of inquiry.2. Analyze disciplinary content to identify contexts, learn fresh perspectives, and debate and discuss problems in the field.4. Recognize and debate ethical issues and academic integrity in a variety of settings.5. Demonstrate proficiency in oral discourse and written communication.6. Develop essential research and study skills such as time management.7. Utilize the eportfolio for at least one assignment.8. Understand the academic expectations pertaining to studentship at the University at Buffalo and to higher learning at a research university.University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkDepartment of Jewish ThoughtJDS199The Origin of Good and EvilProf. Alexander GreenTalbert 106 (North Campus)TR 3:55-5:10 PMFall 2021Course Instructor:Prof. Alexander Green ([email protected])Office Hours: By appointment, onlineCourse Description:In this course, “The Origin of Good and Evil,” we will consider how our understanding of right and wrong, good and evil originate in two archetypes for how to think about ethical questions: Plato’s Republic and the Hebrew Bible. The existence of good and evil has been strongly challenged in the modern era by contemporary philosophy and science. We will read examples of such critiques in the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, and Hannah Arendt suggesting that one should view good and evil through the prism of power, sexuality, and bureaucracy.The six basic questions which we will ask are: 1) Why do we categorize certain things as good and other things as bad? Where does that distinction come from?2) Why do people act badly? What motivates people to act immorally? Are they justified?3) Why do bad things happen to good people? Is the world inherently just?4) How are the ethical and the political related? Is one type of political community more good or just than another? Which one?5) Does acting morally require God? Can one be good without God?6) Can one act unethically and avoid punishment?Warning: You may feel you are an expert on the Bible, having studied it throughout your life. This class will be asking you to “unlearn what you have learned.” We will not be reading the Bible as a religious text that tells you how to live your life as a believer in a specific religion. We1will be reading the Bible as a work of thought or wisdom that seeks to provide a perspective on how to understand the natural world in opposition to the worldview presented by Plato in the Republic.Student Success:This semester@Jenna@Lenz will serve as our@Student Success Coach@to support your transition to the University at Buffalo.@Jenna@will check-in with you throughout the semester and is available to provide guidance on university policies, offer academic tips and resources for success, and help you connect with others in our course and the UB community. Contact@Jenna@by email ([email protected]) for assistance.Required Books:1. Plato, The Republic. New York: Basic Books, 2016. [This is the 3rd edition, but you can purchase the 1st or 2nd edition as well. However, you will have a hard time following along with adifferent translation.]2. The Jewish Study Bible: Featuring The Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation, eds. Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler and Michael Fishbane. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.The readings from Nietzsche, Freud and Arendt will be available for download from Ublearns. Please print and bring to class as we will likely be going through the text in class.Course Requirements:15%: ParticipationAttendance and participation are required. Students must show evidence of preparedness and active contribution in weekly discussions. 5%: Schedule and Note Taking AssignmentOne of the objectives of a 199 course is to develop skills that are necessary for academic success.1) One of them is to learn how to manage your time so that you don’t attempt to complete your essay the night before it’s due. You will be required to submit a daily schedule for how you plan to complete all the components of your essay before it’s due. For example: reading the material, taking notes on the material, creating an outline with thesis statement, speaking to the professor to ask any questions about points that require further clarification, and writing the essay.- Due: Tuesday October 5, 2021- Due: Thursday October 28, 20212) Another skill that is essential is learning how to take effective notes from your reading so that you properly can absorb the material and be prepared to contribute to class discussion. We will instruct you how to take notes according to the “Cornell Method.”2- Due: Thursday September 9, 2021- Due: Tuesday October 26, 20215% Reading Responses and Essay OutlinesThree one page reading responses and two essay outlines. Worth 2% each.1) Due: Thursday September 23, 2021 2) Due: Thursday October 21, 2021 3) Due: Tuesday November 31, 2021 Two Essay Outlines:1) Outline for Essay #1: Due: Thursday October 7, 20212) Outline for Essay #2: Due: Tuesday November 9, 202120%: First Essay (4-5 pages). Due: Thursday October 14, 2021Topic to be distributed Tuesday September 14, 202120%: Second Essay (5-6 pages). Due: Thursday November 18, 2021Topic to be distributed Thursday October 14, 202115%: Seminar PresentationEveryone will give one short presentation of the discussion of the text with a summary of the argument, how it fits into the larger argument and some critical question that it raises.20%: Final Take Home Exam. The final exam will deal with all material covered in class readings and discussions. It will be due one week after the end of the semester.Policy on Late or Incomplete AssignmentsAssignments are to be handed in at the beginning of class. Assignments handed in after class willcount as late. Each day that the assignment is late, including weekends, the grade will be droppedby 5% of a grade.Incompletes (I/IU)*: A grade of incomplete (“I”) indicates that additional course work is required to fulfill the requirements of a given course. Students may only be given an “I” grade if they have a passing average in coursework that has been completed and have well-defined parameters to complete the course requirements that could result in a grade better than the default grade. An “I” grade may not be assigned to a student who did not attend the course.Incompletes (I/IU)**: Prior to the end of the