Love as a Force for Social Justice

About this course: The objectives of this course are: -To introduce participants to different concepts of love, to empower them to be conscious of the power of love and the possibility of practicing it in everyday life, and to highlight in particular the idea of love as a force for social justice. -To communicate a sense of personal strength and empowerment by actively learning from each other and beginning to define how participants can apply their learning in service to society. This course will explore the concept of agape love (compassion/kindness) as a force for social justice and action and as the inspiration for service and the application of knowledge to positive social change. Biological, psychological, religious, and social perspectives of love will be discussed, drawing on the expertise of people from a variety of disciplines. During the six-week course, the following topics will be raised and discussed: kinds of love/defining love; non-violent communication; love and the biology of the brain; love as a basic concept of religious and ethical beliefs (e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Gandhian); love applied in action, and poetic expressions of love as a social force. This curriculum aims to foster a sense of the importance of love as a key phenomenon in creating community, connection, and functional societies among humans. Course materials will draw from a variety of sources. One of the goals of the class is to provide participants with some knowledge of the literature of love, and readings for the course are listed in the outline of the course on the pages that follow.

Created by:  Stanford University

• Taught by:  Anne Firth Murray

Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Stanford University The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto, California, United States.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Introduction
Course introduction


1 video, 3 readings expand

1. Video: Welcome to the class!
2. Reading: Instructor Biographies
3. Reading: Exploring True Love
4. Reading: The Art and Practice of Loving - Frank Andrews

Words and the Meaning of Love



2 videos, 7 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction to Words and the Meaning of Love
2. Reading: Contextualizing Words and the Meaning of Love
3. Reading: Types of Love
4. Reading: Student Information
5. Video: Students defining love and love's opposite
6. Reading: Dictionary Definition of Love
7. Reading: What is Non-Violent Communication? A summary.
8. Reading: Discussion Forums: Words and the Meaning of Love
9. Reading: Suggested Readings

Graded: Weekly Activity
Graded: Weekly Question

WEEK 2


Love and the Brain



3 videos, 7 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction to Love and the Brain
2. Reading: Contextualizing Love and the Brain
3. Reading: Short bio of Ryan York
4. Video: Video: Ryan York in Conversation with Anne
5. Reading: Short Bio of Robert Sapolsky
6. Video: Video: Robert Sapolsky in Conversation with Anne
7. Reading: The Neuroscience of Empathy
8. Reading: Neurological Basis of Altruism
9. Reading: Discussion Forums: Love and the Brain
10. Reading: Suggested Readings

Graded: Weekly Activity
Graded: Weekly Question

WEEK 3


Love and Monotheistic Religions



4 videos, 9 readings expand

1. Video: Week 3: Introduction to Love in Monotheistic Religions
2. Reading: Contextualizing Religion
3. Reading: Short bio of Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
4. Video: Video: Judaism - Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann in Conversation with Anne
5. Reading: Love Thy Neighbor! As Yourself? - Worship led by Rabbi Patricia
6. Reading: Short bio of Xavier Lavagetto
7. Video: Video: Christianity - Xavier Lavagetto in Conversation with Anne
8. Reading: Benedict's First Encyclical
9. Reading: Scotty McLennan sermon
10. Reading: Short bio of Ameena Jandali
11. Video: Video: Islam - Ameena Jandali in Conversation with Anne
12. Reading: The Concept of Love in Islam
13. Reading: Suggested Readings

Love and Systems of Ethical Thought



2 videos, 8 readings expand

1. Reading: Contextualizing Ethical Systems of Thought
2. Reading: Short bio of Paul Harrison
3. Video: Video: Buddhism - Paul Harrison in Conversation with Anne
4. Reading: Metta Bhavana — Cultivation of Loving-kindness
5. Reading: Beginning Practice of Lovingkindness
6. Reading: Suggested Readings
7. Reading: Short bio of Linda Hess
8. Video: Video: Gandhian Principles of Non-Violence - Linda Hess in Conversation with Anne
9. Reading: Gandhi's Philosophy of Non-Violence
10. Reading: Discussion Forums: Religion and Systems of Ethical Thought

Graded: Weekly Activity
Graded: Weekly Question

WEEK 4


Love in Action in One-on-One Interactions



3 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: Week 4: Introduction to Love in Action
2. Reading: Contextualizing Love in Action
3. Reading: The Art and Practice of Loving - Chapters 4, 7, 8, 12
4. Reading: Short bio of Rekha Avirah
5. Video: Video: Delivering Health Care - Rekha Avirah in Conversation with Anne
6. Reading: Short Bio of Chana Stewart
7. Video: Video: Beginning Education - Chana Stewart in Conversation with Anne
8. Reading: Short Bio of B.J. Miller
9. Reading: What Really Matters at the End of Life

Love in Action at Work in the Business Community



1 video, 4 readings expand

1. Reading: Contextualizing Love in the Workplace
2. Reading: Short Bio of Scotty McLennan
3. Video: Video: Love and Business - Scotty McLennan in conversation with Anne
4. Reading: Short Bio of Nipun Mehta
5. Reading: Nipun Mehta - Designing for Generosity

Love in Action in Non-Governmental Organizations



4 readings expand

1. Reading: Contextualizing Love in Non-Profit Organizations
2. Reading: Examples of Non-Profit Organizations that Consciously Express Principles of Love
3. Reading: Discussion Forums: Love in Action
4. Reading: Suggested Readings

Graded: Weekly Activity
Graded: Weekly Question

WEEK 5


Love and Social Justice



1 video, 9 readings expand

1. Video: Video: Introduction to Love and Social Justice
2. Reading: Contexualizing Love and Social Justice
3. Reading: A Natural History of Peace
4. Reading: Why Civil Resistance Works by Maria J. Stephan and Erica Chenoweth
5. Reading: Gandhi's Salt March
6. Reading: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
7. Reading: Dakota Access Pipeline Protests
8. Reading: 2017 Women's March
9. Reading: Discussion Forums: Love and Social Justice
10. Reading: Suggested Readings

Graded: Contemporary Social Justice Issues Exercise
Graded: Weekly Activity
Graded: Weekly Question

WEEK 6


Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life



1 video, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Video: Introduction to Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life
2. Reading: Contextualizing Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life
3. Reading: Poems of Protest and Revolution
4. Reading: Best Protest Songs from the 1960s
5. Reading: Discussion Forums: Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life
6. Reading: Suggested Readings

Love in our Future Lives



2 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: Video: Student Discussion on Love in Their Future Lives
2. Reading: Suggested Readings
3. Reading: The Art and Practice of Loving
4. Video: Video: Closing Remarks
5. Reading: Course Certificate and Financial Aid

Graded: Final Reflection