Odyssey of the West

This course is an interdisciplinary series of connected lectures delivered by eminent scholars from several colleges and universities. Each professor addresses an area of personal expertise and focuses not only on the matter at hand but on the larger story, on the links between the works and the figures discussed. The lectures address, in chronological sequence, a series of major works that have shaped the ongoing development of Western thought both in their own right and in cultural dialogue with other traditions. In the process, the course engages many of the most perennial and far-reaching questions that we face in our daily lives.

This course is an interdisciplinary series of connected lectures delivered by eminent scholars from several colleges and universities. Each professor addresses an area of personal expertise and focuses not only on the matter at hand but on the larger story, on the links between the works and the figures discussed. The lectures address a series of major works that have shaped the ongoing development of Western thought.

Odyssey of the West I and II explored timeless works from the ancient world that shaped, and continue to shape, the culture and philosophies of life today. In part three of this fascinating series, Professor Timothy B. Shutt of Kenyon College is joined by Professors Thomas F. Madden (Saint Louis University) and Monica Brzezinski Potkay (College of William & Mary) as they examine the most influential thinkers and works of the medieval world. The Odyssey of the West series addresses in chronological sequence the works that have shaped-and indeed questioned- the ongoing development of Western thought both in its own right and in cultural dialogue with other traditions. Part three is a richly detailed look at St. Augustine, Beowulf, St. Thomas Aquinas, Authurian legends, Dante, Gothic art, and other highlights of the period. Through the course of these lectures, it becomes apparent that the "dark" ages were in fact a time of immense achievement, and a time that richly rewards those who study its art and philosophies.

The Odyssey of the West series addresses in chronological sequence the works that have shaped the ongoing development of Western thought both in its own right and in cultural dialogue with other traditions. Part four provides a close look at the period from the Renaissance to the Scientific Revolution and into the early Enlightenment. These lectures take in the immense variety and singular achievements that have helped mold our present societies.

In weaving together the varied and interrelated strands of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century discourse and events, this course focuses on the contributions to Western history that bear the most responsibility for shaping the world of today. Among these contributions are such vital, yet markedly different documents as the Federalist Papers and the Communist Manifesto. New styles of art and literature are also given a stunning treatment, as the professors delve into discussions on Romantic trends in both art and literature. But perhaps most important of all is the single most influential event in the last five hundred years-the scientific revolution-which serves as the engine of progress driving much of the social, political, and cultural change seen in this dramatic period.

The Odyssey of the West series, a grand exploration of art, literature, revolutionary theories, and intellectual progress through the ages, concludes with a fascinating look at the twentieth century. Series editor and esteemed university professor Timothy B. Shutt is joined by contributing lecturers for a lively discussion of the major works and strains of thought that ushered in the modern age. A fitting capstone for this comprehensive series, this sixth and final installment imparts a learned understanding of the forces that shaped-and continue to shape-Western culture.