9:30-10:45 A   TR   WH 120

11:15A-12:05P  R  BH 018 (Discussion)

E104 COAS Topics Course: Liberty and Its Enemies with H299
Honors Discussion section.

In this course we take a look at the troubled boundary between the value
of individual liberty and the requirements of a democratic society. Within
prescribed limits we cherish the freedom to do and say what we want, and
we often, not always, acknowledge the responsibilities associated with
this freedom. But at the same time for most of us 8individual liberty is
not a solitary value. Does the exercise of our freedoms make sense only
within the framework of a democratic nation and a pluralist society? If
so, do these collective entities have "rights" as well? For each
individual, the dilemma is posed by Hillel: If I am not for myself, then
who will be for me - If I am only for myself, then what am I for

We explore these questions from a number of perspectives. We begin with
John Stuart Mill's famous treatise, On Liberty, and its relation to
American values and political life. We then look at a number of objections
and reformulations of this position. We conclude by examining the extent
to which the post-war German experience offers a way to reconcile liberty
and democratic order.

These issues will be developed through films, a novel, and a play, as well
as through works in political and legal thought. They mandate discussion
by people in the class, which we shall attempt to provide. In terms of
written assignments, there will be a number of short papers and an
in-class examination. There will be no final examination.

H299
Honors Discussion Section
For our Honors Discussion Section we will be examining the case of the
American, Gary Lauck. Lauck is a "holocaust denier." He is now serving
time in a German prison for stating and writing, among other things, that
Hitler was the greatest man of the twentieth century, and that his only
problem with Jews was that he was too nice. While obviously repugnant, the
expression of these sentiments is constitutional in the United States. In
Germany an attempt to undermine the democratic order through such
expressions can result in the loss of rights for those involved. We will
investigate the different American and German positions as a way of
understanding the question, should there by liberty for the enemies of
liberty?

I would be pleased to discuss this issue or general course matters. My
email address is furniss@indiana.edu; my phone is (812)333-00203.