SPRING 2005 HONORS SEMINARS
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Winter Seminars
Gerald
Dworkin
WF
10:00-11:50 am
2275 Social Sciences & Humanities
Recently, in order to determine whether the injection of fetal cells was helpful in treating Parkinson's Disease, surgeons performed "sham surgery" on some patients as a control to see whether the mere belief that the material had been injected would be as effective as the actual injection of fetal material. Some patients, who consented to receiving either the real or the sham treatment but would not know which, had their skulls operated on but no active material was introduced. The surgeons were testing whether the operation itself had a"placebo effect." In a study on the treatment of depression, 52% of the patients who received an anti-depressant improved, while 38% who received a placebo (basically a sugar pill) also improved. And brain scans showed that both sets of patients had changes in brain activity; although the changes were of a different nature in the two groups.
What do we know about the nature of placebos? What do we know about their effects? Why do they work? When is it ethical for doctors to prescribe placebos? When is it ethical for doctors to use placebos in clinical investigations?
Anna K. Kuhn
TR 2:10-4:00 pm
176 Kerr
Most Western societies, following the philosophy of Rene Descartes, are predicated on the belief in a split between body and mind. Such a worldview tends to denigrate the body in favor of the mind, which is perceived as that which differentiates us from animals and hence valorized as the locus of the truly human. On the other hand, some non-Western societies have a more holistic view of the human organism, believing in the interdependence of mind and body.
Among the questions this course poses are: What are the historical
roots of Western culture's dichotomous opposition of mind and body? What are
the philosophical roots of other cultures' more holistic conception of the
mind and body? What do scientists mean when they speak of the psychobiology
of mind-body healing? What role does the mind play in combating and overcoming
illness and in fostering healing and wellness? Alternatively, what role does
the mind play in the etiology of disease? What precisely do we mean by psychosomatic
illness? What are the psychic prerequisites for good somatic health? What
role does nutrition play in wellness? How can we account for spontaneous remissions
in patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses? What light does the relatively
new field of psychoneuroimmunology shed on these issues? Are there viable
alternative medical treatments to those offered by traditional Western allopathic
medicine, which has come under attack for treating symptoms rather than causes?
Does Reiki work? What are we to make of "faith healing"?
What are we to make of voodoo and shamanism?
The Disconnect Between Science and Medicine: Partially Bogus Science, Quackery, and Healing in the Contemporary USA
Jerry Last
HNR
94-003 (4 units) GE Credit: Writing
TR 1:10-3:00
pm
154 Academic Center / The Colleges at LaRue
Books and magazines promise us perfect health and body weight while eating all the hamburger, eggs and bacon we want (The Atkins Diet), but the reality of fad diets may be very different. Holistic medicine promotes "natural foods" and "natural medicines," some of which may kill (e.g., ephedra). The "mind/body connection" is touted as superior to modern pharmaceuticals. Why is this true, and why is "scientific medicine" less popular than alternative medicine for an entire population in the USA that is much more educated than any previous generation? What is alternative medicine, and does it work? Why are HMOs willing to pay for alternative medicine for their subscribers, and even promoting some forms of it? Does availability of non-traditional medicine in the USA lead to different quality of health care for the poor and wealthier classes? Are there significant ethnic and cultural differences in access to, and use of, quacks and bogus medicine in our contemporary society, and does this contribute to health care disparities?
Are there "scientific studies" that show the safety and efficacy of "natural foods" and "natural medicines," and of the methods of holistic medicine? If there are "scientific studies," do they rely on good science or bogus science? Who decides this? What are the proper scientific methods to test drugs and other medical procedures for safety and efficacy? Is chiropractic medicine safe and efficacious, for example? How about osteopathic medicine? How about homeopathic medicine? How about Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurvedic medicine? Why doesn't the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have the same regulatory authority over nutritional supplements it has over other types of drugs and foods? Should it? What is the placebo effect, and can it be properly accounted for in testing drugs and procedures? How?
This class will try to find answers to these complex questions. Who knows? You might change your ideas about your next visit to a health care practitioner!
Krishnan Nambiar
TR 10:00-11:50 am
154 Academic Center
/ The Colleges at LaRue
The United States has a record of providing help to other countries in need. The humanitarian aid we provide to assist those in crisis worldwide is an excellent example. How ever, recent events clearly show that a lot of people in this world hate us. Why? What do they hate? What are the criteria they use in arriving at their current feelings? This seminar will explore and analyze the political, economic, social, cultural, and religious aspects relevant to this case. We will try to come up with potential solutions to change the current situation. The final product will be a recommendation to the State Department for consideration.
Energy demand and supply: an impending
crisis?
Dan Potter
HNR 94-005 (4 units) GE Credit: Writing
MW 11:00 am-12:50 pm
176 Kerr
A recent article in The New Yorker
states that the inhabitants of the U.S. constitute 5% of the world's population
and consume 25% of its energy, and that, at current rates of consumption,
the U.S. would use up its oil reserves in 4.25 years. The author goes on to
discuss the pros and cons of various solutions that have been proposed to
our current dependence on foreign oil, including drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, development of alternative energy sources such as solar power,
and energy conservation. The article concludes that, despite what some politicians
say, energy independence for the U.S. is not a realistic goal in the short
term, and that education of the public is crucial in order for any significant
change to occur. In this seminar, we will explore the claims made in this
and other articles and we will investigate the status, future prospects, and
options for meeting U.S. energy needs.
These are some of the questions we will address: How quickly are we running
out of oil? How are changes in supply and demand for oil likely to affect
the prices of gasoline and other energy sources? When and how are changes
in prices likely to affect people's decisions about energy usage? What is
the status of research and implementation of alternative sources of energy
(solar, hydrogen, geothermal)? What are the strengths and limitations of the
various alternatives? What are the political, economic, and social forces
involved in promoting and limiting their development and adoption? What are
the environmental concerns involved? How accurate, thorough, and current is
the general public's awareness and knowledge about these issues? How do the
answers to all of these questions vary internationally? The goal of the seminar
will be to prepare a set of recommendations for future U.S. energy policies.
Pop, Politics, and the American Soul
Wendy Silk
MW 9:00-10:50 am
2004 PES (Plant & Environmental Sciences)
In the conventions of the major political parties last summer, music was used
to stimulate excitement, hope, and solidarity among the participants and viewers.
Popular music stars wrote and performed songs to influence young people during
the election campaign. For instance the rapper P-Diddy had a campaign called
"Vote or Die;" MTV sponsored "Rock the Vote;" while
the Christian Rock movement and some major country music stars were involved
in the Bush campaign.
In this seminar we will explore the role of music in political activism and the impact of contemporary music on politics and culture of youth. We will take a multidisciplinary approach to the topic and delve into music, politics, economics, sociology, and physiology. Possible topics for research include: How do political groups use music to advance their cause? How can music promote polarization? How can music help in healing? Should restrictions be placed on public performance of music in certain venues? How are youth affected politically and economically by popular music, and how do young people produce music to affect U.S. culture? What is the neuro-psychological basis for the impact of music on humans?
Marriage: A Division in the Union
Mani
Tripathi
TR 5:10-7:00 pm
141 Olson
There is a division in our society over social and moral
issues that has increased to critical levels over the past decade. The debate
has spilled over into the political arena, and for a large section of the
American population these disagreements have become an indicator of voting
preferences. As a case study, among several such issues, we will focus on the
debate over the legalization of same-sex marriages. This issue may at first
glance be considered as something that affects only a special interest group,
but in reality it has become an area of concern in the political thinking of
the general population.
The range of opinions among people representing various
political persuasions is vast. Further complexity arises from fundamental
differences of domestic partnership versus marriage and religious versus civil
union as applied to heterosexual versus same-sex marriage. The debate has
pitted the federal government versus state government (e.g., Massachusetts)
versus local government (e.g., San Francisco), and it may well reach the
Supreme Court in the near future.
We will examine the issues involved (social, moral,
political, legislative and economic) and the interpretation of the U.S.
Constitution as it applies to them. The students will develop position papers
by the end of the quarter that will then be synthesized into a concise report
of our findings.