Courses

Fall 2007

Issues of Secularism and Diversity in Global Thought

Department Anthropology, Philosophy
Course # CGTH W4520
Time Wednesday, 2:10 pm
Location 901 Schermerhorn
Akeel Bilgrami /
Professor of Philosophy
Office Location: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Partha Chatterjee /
Professor of Anthropology
Office Location: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Nicholas Dirks /
Professor of Anthropology/Professor of History
Office Location: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Ayça Çubukçu /
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Office Location: 857 Schermerhorn Extension
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

This course focuses on issues of cultural diversity under conditions of globalization. Weekly topics include secularism in postcolonial contexts, as well as cosmopolitanism, feminism and religion in relation to secularism and “tolerance.” While the emphasis of the course will be on contemporary debates, we will also look at relevant historical genealogies of some of the controversies. Regional variations across the world in the local framing of many of these debates will be given special consideration. The aim will be to investigate the presuppositions of prevailing common sense on the effects globalization has had, and is having, on cultural diversity.