Interested in the great trials of history? Hoping to become a famous litigator or trial advocate? USC is offering a new freshman seminar out, FSEM 180, Ideas on Trial!
Offered through the Philosophy department, this historical survey of famous trials discusses the relationship between important ideas and the trials that decided their fate in the world community. Science and religion, duty and morality conflict throughout the ages in the court room in this topical discussion of ideas on trial.
Ideas on Trial
Edwin McCann, Philosophy
Monday, 3-4:50; Section 34663
Great trials in the past have been important indicators of social and cultural attitudes. We’ll study some of these trials, usually through actual transcripts, to see how they not only crystallize but help to shape the attitudes regarding the duty of obedience a citizen owes to the state, the conflict between science and religion, the morality of war, and other issues of fundamental concern. There is a rich variety of such trials to choose from: the trial of Socrates, the trials of Joan of Arc, the trial of Galileo, the Salem witchcraft trials, the Scopes trial, the Nuremberg trials, the Eichmann trial. We’ll select several to discuss in the course.
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