Dr. Watts

Questions for Wednesday’s Class Discussion, 11/4

Posted by on November 4, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1) Break up into groups and read through Aristocracy. In this, Diderot lays out the points that make a good aristocracy, which of these align with how the French aristocracy runs and which don’t? What other not so subtle criticisms are in some of the other required readings? 2) According to Robert Danton, how did one make […]

Questions for Monday’s Class Discussion 11/2

Posted by on November 1, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1. Get into pairs and discuss one selection from Dr. Watts’ list and one of the selections you found on your own to prepare to discuss with the class. Try to relate these selections to what we’ve discussed in previous classes about France in the eighteenth century. 2. “Social Uses of Science” discusses Newtonian principles and the […]

Discussion Questions for Wednesday’s Class 10/28

Posted by on October 27, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1) “… [a philosopher] takes as true that which is true, as false that which is false, as doubtful that which is doubtful, and as probably that which is only probable. He goes further – and here is a great perfection of the philosopher – when he has no proper motive for judging, he remains undecided.” Form […]

Questions for Monday’s Class, October 26th

Posted by on October 26, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1) Steinbrugge quotes “the recognition of children as people in their own right also contributed to a new understanding of the maternal role.” Graffigny also mentions the role of children within the family and their expectations. During the Enlightenment period, how was the role of the child changing and what effect did this have on […]

Questions for Wednesday’s Class, October 21st

Posted by on October 20, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1. Why would Graffigny portray French society and manners in such a negative way? What affect would this have on the French population at the time? What have we learned about French society that would lend to her descriptions? 2. What new opportunities were made available to women through these salons? How did this affect […]

Questions for Monday’s Class 10/19

Posted by on October 19, 2015 in Questions for discussion

1. In his article, Porter discusses the transition into a period of significant literature production and dispersion and he notes some of the benefits, as well as some concerns people had about this. Going off of that and based on the rest of his article, do you think the presented problem at the end, that […]

Instructions for Discussion Leaders

Posted by on August 21, 2015 in Questions for discussion

Discussion leaders should post questions for class through the “add post” button on the webpage. Be sure to click “Questions for discussion” under the Categories box so others can continue the conversation. Also, note the date of your discussion and the title of the reading in your question.