Contributing to the Advancement of Civilization: Towards a Framework
Unit 1: Justice and the Oneness of Humankind
About this course
This is a graduate level course developed by the Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences (FUNDAEC). It is the first in a series of units that explore an evolving framework within which an individual concerned with the transformation of society acts and reflects on action. Below is a description of the text prepared by FUNDAEC:
This first unit of the series consists of three chapters. Chapter 1, we set out to examine the nature of the evolving conceptual framework that we believe governs our thought and action as we strive to contribute to the advancement of civilization. We will continue with this type of exploration in the first chapter of every subsequent unit. The next two chapters are dedicated, each in turn, to one of two fundamental elements of the framework: the principle of the oneness of humankind is addressed in Chapter 2, followed by a discussion in Chapter 3 of justice as an essential attribute of the individual and of social structures and processes. It is clear that, no matter how much we try, we will not be able to deal with these themes at the level of depth they deserve. Here, then, we take solace in the knowledge that we will come back to both themes time and again in future units, which will provide us with an opportunity to delve deeper into the profound implications of each.
Indeed, our framework for thought and action is engendered by certain conceptions, which can, for the purpose of discussion, be grouped into various categories. Among them are a number of interrelated principles that, as an integral part of our belief system, can never be abandoned. So vast are the implications of these principles that it would be impossible to fully grasp them at any given moment. Deliberations on their manifold meanings never come to an end. All that we can hope to do in this unit, then, is to achieve some preliminary agreement on how two of these principles—the oneness of humankind, the very bedrock of our belief system, and justice, considered indispensable to the unification of the human race—give shape to the entire framework we are striving to elaborate.
Commitment
After many years of offering courses online, we have found that the study of educational materials at a distance requires a good degree of time and effort on the part of the tutor and the participants. Time and effort are required not only to engage with the content of the course, but to use the online platforms in a manner that fosters engagement, which is so central to learning. We have also found that the study is enriching and rewarding when attended to well, when the tutor and the student dedicated the time required to read, to think, to share and to consult.
Regarding this course, students need to set aside time each week to read, complete written assignments, and participate in discussions, including 5 live group discussions, which are approximately 2 hours in duration. While the time required varies from person to person, a guideline would be about 10 hours per week.
Upcoming offerings
Winter 2024
Application deadline: 19 January 2024
Course begins: 29 January 2024
Course concludes: 17 March 2024
Summer 2024
Application deadline: 21 June 2024
Course begins: 1 July 2024
Course concludes: 25 August 2024
Autumn 2024
Application deadline: 20 September 2024
Course begins: 30 September 2024
Course concludes: 23 November 2024
Unit 2: The Big Push
About this course
This is the second in a series of units that explore a framework within which an individual concerned with the transformation of society acts and reflects on action. It is offered online over an 8-week period. Below is a description of the unit provided by FUNDAEC.
This unit, the second in the series, consists of five chapters. In the first, we pick up the discussion we began in the preceding unit on the nature of the evolving conceptual framework that governs our thought and action as we strive to contribute to the advancement of both material and spiritual civilization. The next four chapters are dedicated to the exploration of several concepts that, taken together, help us clarify our understanding of what is meant by “material civilization”. The way we will go about exploring these concepts is to examine in some detail the evolution of development thought during the second half of the twentieth century. Yet it is important to bear in mind that our interest here lies not so much in the field of social and economic development itself. What we hope to understand is how five decades of intense international activity to modernize the so-called “underdeveloped” countries of the planet have shaped certain ideas central to the civilization-building process. The task before us is to identify these ideas and then to do our best to modify them in ways that make them consistent with other elements of our conceptual framework.
At the outset, we should mention that, given the magnitude of the task at hand, it cannot be accomplished in a single unit. So numerous are the concepts we need to consider that we are devoting two units to their discussion in order to ensure that we achieve an adequate level of depth. This first one, subtitled “The Big Push”, chronicles what we might term mainstream development thought as it manifested itself in programs of governments and large international agencies. In the study of the unit, it is useful to remember that the sections designated “reflections” are more crucial to us than the information imparted in the readings.
Commitment
After many years of offering courses online, we have found that the study of educational materials at a distance requires a good degree of time and effort on the part of the tutor and the participants. Time and effort are required not only to engage with the content of the course, but to use the online platforms in a manner that fosters engagement, which is so central to learning. We have also found that the study is enriching and rewarding when attended to well, when the tutor and the student dedicated the time required to read, to think, to share and to consult.
Regarding this course, students need to set aside time each week to read, complete written assignments, and participate in discussions, including 5 live group discussions, which are approximately 2 hours in duration. While the time required varies from person to person, a guideline would be about 10 hours per week.
Upcoming offerings
Spring 2024
Application deadline: 15 March 2024
Course begins: 25 March 2024
Course concludes: 19 May 2024
Autumn 2024
Application deadline: 4 October 2024
Course begins: 14 October 2024
Course concludes: 30 November 2024