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C00002 00002	%wester[w89,jmc]		Proposals for a Western civilization track
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%wester[w89,jmc]		Proposals for a Western civilization track

	The Western civilization requirement at Stanford has been
replaced by an ``issues and ideas'' track, much to the regret of
people who regard the ideas of Western culture as fundamental to
our civilization.  However, the new system provides for multiple
tracks, and I suggest taking advantage of this.

	I suppose some existing tracks more or less correspond to
the previous Western Culture and Civilization course.  What I propose
is something rather different.  We'll need a shorter title, but
I propose a track that might be entitled

How Western civilization became world civilization, how Western
technology became world technology and how Western culture became
world culture.  

	It would cover the classic texts, especially those
that remain in the requirement, but would concentrate on their
influence beyond the West.  To design and carry out such a course
would be a lot of work, and it's not clear that we enthusiasts
for Western culture are up to it.