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Lecturer(s)
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Nejeschleba Tomáš, prof. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Preliminary Schedule: A) Part One 1. Introduction: Francis Bacon, Life and Work 2. Bacon, New Atlantis - Introductory Travel Narrative 3. Guided Reading of New Atlantis Part 1 (The History and Christianization of Bensalem) 4. Guided reading of New Atlantis 2 (The Society of Bensalem) 5. Guided reading of New Atlantis 3 (Solomon's House) 6. Conclusion, discussion B) Second part 1. Introduction to the works of J. A. Comenius and his philosophy 2. Guided tour of the J. A. Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod 3. Comenius Studies Colloquium at the J. A. Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod - Day One 4. Comenius Studies Colloquium at the J. A. Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod - Day Two
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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Learning outcomes
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The course consists of two parts: The first part focuses on reading and interpreting Francis Bacon's New Atlantis, one of the most famous works of political philosophy from the transition between the Renaissance and the early modern period. First, course participants will be introduced to Bacon's work and the historical context through lectures. Subsequently, the seminar will involve a detailed and thorough reading of the text and its interpretation. The basis for the reading will be the revised Czech translation by Alois Bejblík (Prague: Mladá Fronta 1980), compared with the critical edition of the text (ed. Brian Vickers, Oxford-New York 1996). In our interpretation, we will then focus on themes such as understanding "New Atlantis" as a political -philosophical text building on utopian thought or as a vision of social reform; on New Atlantis as the secularization of Christian salvation transformed into the idea of scientific and technological progress; and on the problem of environmentalist criticism of Bacon, specifically from the perspective of ecofeminism. The second part focuses on the philosophy of J. A. Comenius and its sources, particularly the connection between J. A. Comenius and Francis Bacon. This section will examine the various stages in the development of Comenius's thought, which will also be presented through papers by individual seminar participants: encyclopedism, pansophy, and the emendation project. The seminar will take place in a block format from November 4 to 7, 2025, as a residential event, which requires participants to stay at the venue. Accommodation is provided at the Environmental Education Center of the Uherský Brod Youth Center in Maršov. https://www.ddmub.cz/sev-marsov/ Meals are on your own. (There is no public transportation to the village, and there are no shops or restaurants there.) I will contact those registered for the seminar regarding specific instructions for the stay.
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Prerequisites
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The seminar is intended for students of the bachelor's program.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
Active participation in all parts of the seminar and the submission of a written seminar papera reflection on one of the issues addressed in New Atlantis and its interpretations (5 pages in length)are prerequisites for receiving credit.
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Recommended literature
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Francis Bacon's New Atlantis. New interdisciplinary essays. Manchester. 2002.
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Bacon, Francis. (1980). Nová Atlantida a Eseje. Praha.
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Čížek, Jan. Komenský a Bacon. Dvě raně novověké cesty k obnově vědění. Praha. 2017.
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Floss, Pavel. Jan Amos Komenský. Od divadla věcí k dramatu člověka. Ostrava. 1970.
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Kumpera, Jan. Jan Amos Komenský. Poutník na rozhraní věků. Uherský Brod. 2023.
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Patočka, Jan. Komeniologické studie I. Praha. 1997.
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