Newcomb-Tulane College: Colloquia
2008-2009 Academic Year
90
Office:
105 F. Edward Hébert Hall
Phone:
504-865-5517
Fax:
504-862-8709
Program Administrator
Thomas Luongo, History (Director, Associate Dean for Honors)
Colloquia usually meet once a week in a seminar format with the emphasis upon
class discussion. Honors colloquia, designated by the prefix H, are open only to
students in the Tulane Honors Program, to those on the dean's list, or to
candidates for degrees with departmental honors. Honors colloquia on the 400
level are open to juniors and seniors (sophomores by special permission). The
other colloquia listed below are open to any student in good standing. Colloquia
may be used for elective credit. Consult the director of the Honors Program
regarding credit for individual colloquia. For many of the colloquia listed below,
the specific topic varies from semester to semester, consult the Schedule of
Classes for further information or request a current course description from the
Honors Program office.
COLQ H101 Honors Freshman Colloquium (1-3)
COLQ H201 Honors Sophomore Colloquium (1-3)
Staff. A general colloquium built around some significant concept or problem
which may be approached from many different points of view.
COLQ H301 Science and Human Values (3)
Prof. Birtel. The prohibition against confusion of "is" and "ought" has not
prevented scientific theories from impinging on sociopolitical and religious
values. The purpose of this colloquium is to examine specific instances of the
interaction of science and values in order to gain insights into various ways in
which these interactions occur. What is science? What are values? Is the
methodology of science relevant to the methodology of ethics? What is the role of
theology in science and in ethics? Is science objective and are values subjective?
Is science value-free? The emphasis is on the interaction of science and values,
not on the history of science or on the growth of knowledge.
COLQ H302 God(s) and Science (3)
Prof. Birtel. Is it not all over with belief in God? Has religion any future? Can we
have morality without religion? Is not science sufficient? Has atheism not been
proved and is nihilism not refutable? And, if God does exist, what kind of God is
He? How has science changed theology? Is there any similarity between the two
enterprises? Are there really different ways of knowing? What alternatives exist
to replace the legacy of dualism? Are the god of philosophy, the god of history,
and the god of nature and god of faith different gods?