Finance and Society

Have we entered a new Era of Social Organization: the Era of Financialization? Financialization is the increasing role of financial motives, financial markets, financial actors, and financial institutions in the operations of domestic and international economies. We could add, that financialization also increases all of these roles in the interaction with society more broadly. If we have have entered a new era of financialization: what does this mean about the way our economy works? Does it mean that the economy serves finance instead of finance serving the economy?

S-Prejudice & Intrgrp Relation

This course introduces students to psychological theories of prejudice and intergroup relations with a strong emphasis on applying these theories to the multi-ethnic context of the United States. The course begins with an overview of key issues in the study of intergroup relations with references to perceptions and experiences of many native and immigrant groups in the United States. We will then review classic and contemporary theory and research on prejudice and intergroup relations with special attention to examples from social psychology.

S-Consciousness

This course compares current philosophical and psychological perspectives on consciousness with those found in religious scriptures. For example, on the one hand, first person vs. third person perspective, the relation of consciousness to brain, the existence of qualia, blindsight, zombies, inverted spectra, what it is like to be a bat, and on the other hand, pure consciousness, the unity of mystical thought, heaven within, Buddha nature, Samadhi, Dhyana and Prajna, suchness, the prayer of quiet, the cloud of unknowing, all this is that.

Social Problems

Introduction to sociology. America's major social problems--past and present--are examined. These include crime, mental health, drug addiction, family tensions and inequalities based on race, gender, ethnicity and social class.
(Gen.Ed. SB, U)
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