Continuing Education

[close] Do We Have an Obligation to Help Others? What is the Basic Social Contract? If a family member is going through a rough patch, of course we’ll do what we can to help them out, right? But what about a co-worker? Not so fast. And let’s say you’re on BART late at night and see a guy who looks like he’s had a few too many. Who among us is going to make sure he gets home safely? Of course, we can’t possibly offer help to everyone in the world who needs it. So where do we draw the line? Friends but not neighbors? Bay Area but not Central Valley? California but not Oklahoma? America but not Afghanistan? In this course, we will be reading two classic short stories: Katherine Mansfield’s ”The Garden Party” and Herman Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener.” They are different in just about every way (for example, one is short, the other is long; one is creepy and dark, the other is sweet and bright, etc.), with one big exception: They both ask us to consider the ways we’re connected to the people around us, and the responsibilities of our shared humanity. We will discuss these weighty questions, and whatever other questions may come up. Please register for this course at http://www.sfpolis.com before Dec. 2, 2013 Instructor: Daniel Herman When: December 3rd, 10th, 17th (Tuesdays) 7:00-8:30 PM Where: The Women’s Building, 3543 18th St, SF

[close] Essays today seem to be the new stories: many start with an anecdote whose narrative power startles as much as any work of fiction. So what’s the difference between stories and essays in 2013, and do we care? Some people say, “It’s an essay if it’s true, it’s a story if it’s imagined.” But don’t many fiction writers base stories on experience? And don’t essayists present their “truth” selectively, choosing what to include and what to omit? In each of our three weeks together, we will read stories and essays that speak to each other, that invite our conversation, and we will talk about writing magic—and about whether the magic of a great story is different from the magic of a great essay. Students will read from the following list of essays and short stories: Week One: Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood paired with Grammar Lessons: The Subjunctive Mood by Michelle Morano Week Two: Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin paired with Stranger in the Village by James Baldwin Week Three: Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor paired with I Want a Wife by Judy Syfers and A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. Instructor: Ellen Greenblatt When: Mondays October 14, 21, 28 from 7:00-8:30PM Where: The Women’s Building, 3543 18th St San Francisco, CA 94110

[close] The novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is a deeply philosophical masterpiece of nineteenth-century Russian literature. In it Tolstoy explores one of the fundamental questions of human existence–what does it mean to live a good life? During this two-week Polis session, we will examine together the promises and pitfalls of living what on the surface seems to be a “perfect” life.

[close] The Drinkers and Great Thinkers course series offers a chance for students who cannot make the commitment to a multi-part class to experience a Polis seminar. Students will read one seminal essay or short story for a single session class and the conversation with be carefully paired with a variety of micro-brew beers. The Drinkers and Great Thinkers series provides a good balance of community and meaningful discussion.The Drinkers and Great Thinkers course series are currently planned for November (2013) and January, March, May (2014). November Drinkers and Great Thinkers Course: Is There Meaning in Everything? What Can We Learn From the Mundane and Routine Parts of Life? The Essays of Michel de Montaigne + Saison Farmhouse Ale In this one session Polis course, students will discuss a set of short essays (some are just one paragraph!) written by the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne. Those who have never read Montaigne are in for a real treat. Montaigne is curious about nearly everything in his world: from the usefulness of thumbs to the purpose of love. Montaigne is a funny, pithy, and accessible writer. Our class conversation will focus on the essential question: Is there meaning in everything? We will engage in discussion about whether or not the mundane and routine parts of our lives can be instructive to us and if so, how? All classes in the Polis Drinkers and Great Thinkers series will pair the great thinker with an appropriate great beer selection that we will sample during class. In this case, we plan to pair Montaigne with a variety of Saison Farmhouse Style Ales (rooted in French and Belgian history and culture). The beer sampling is included in the course price. Instructor: Mary Finn When: November 13, 2013 (Wednesday) 7:00-8:30 PM Where: The Women’s Building, 3543 18th St, SF