Decisions, decisions ...

Hmmm - do I download the new KDE 3.2 RPMs for Mandrake 9.2, or do I wait for Mandrake 10.0 to come out? Knowing me, installing either could put my computer out of action for some time ;-)

Rousseau revisited

I teach a rather odd course called Sophomore Academic English (which used, more appropriately, to be called Political Literacy). It's a paired course: a philosophy/polisci/IR lecturer teaches the history of political philosophy while I, in parallel, go through the Great Books with the students.

This semester starts with Rousseau. Previously I've always taught the Discourse on Inequality, but I've just found out that this time round I need to teach On Social Contract instead. OK, I've read the latter work, but it was several years ago, and I remember nothing other than "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."

Hmm, how can I make this stretch to fill an hour's lesson tomorrow? Quick lesson plan:

1. Man Discuss the use of "man" to mean "humanity". Ignore the fact that Rousseau wrote in French so used a different word.
2. is born Why is this a passive verb? In Turkish it is active. Does this reflect a cultural difference?
3. free Here's the humdinger. What does it mean to be free?
4. and Most times I hear this line quoted, "and" is replaced by "but". Why?
5. "everywhere Did Rousseau mean "pretty much everywhere" or did he really mean "everywhere"? Is the use of absolutes for emphasis a feature of feminine discourse? (as in "We never go out any more?")
6. he See "man". What are the cultural implications of a language lacking a gender-neutral personal pronoun. Compare with Turkish (which has no grammatical gender).
7. is Whoa, General Semantics!
8. in chains If my students don't already know me as "Mr. Metaphor", they will now!

You know, I started writing this as a joke, but I think I might just do it.