Professor of political science Vincent Philip Muñoz and professor of business ethics James Otteson are volunteering their time to teach a one-credit course titled “1776: The Ideas that Made the Modern World.”
The course examines the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations,” focusing on how the texts shaped modern political and economic institutions.
Muñoz explained how the course is especially timely as the United States approaches its semiquincentennial.
“Given that America is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, I thought any and every Notre Dame student who wanted to learn about the Declaration of Independence ought to have the opportunity to do so,” Muñoz wrote.
Muñoz hopes students gain a deeper understanding of the Declaration’s philosophical foundations.
“Regarding the Declaration of Independence, I hope students will gain an appreciation of the meaning of human equality and especially how our fundamental equality is rooted in human nature as created by God,” Muñoz wrote.
He described how the class also considers how the nation’s commitment to equality has developed over time, referencing the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, the writings of Frederick Douglass and the moral witness of Martin Luther King Jr.
Otteson explained that the texts for the class have shaped history in the United States and beyond.
“The Declaration of Independence and ‘The Wealth of Nations’ are works that have profoundly influenced subsequent history, both in the United States and throughout much of the rest of the world,” Otteson wrote. “I hope students come to understand these works’ central claims and arguments and gain an appreciation for why they have been so influential. Ultimately, I hope students develop their own informed and independent judgment of the works.”
Sophomore Will Michalski enrolled in the class because the course provided an opportunity to discuss foundational political questions.
“This course seemed like a relatively low commitment for the gain of talking about many fundamental questions of American politics that interest me, which I do not get the opportunity to do in the majority of my courses,” Michalski wrote.
Michalski explained how the class examines how ideas from 1776 have evolved over time.
“We have not only been looking at these ideas at their conception, but how they have evolved and been responded to over time,” he wrote. “Thinking about these questions will always be important for Americans, no matter the time.”
Senior Jack Theobald highlighted how he was drawn to the course amid what he described as a polarized political climate.
“Now, perhaps more than ever, I think it is important to engage with the ideas that our nation was built upon,” Theobald wrote. Theobald wanted to study the texts carefully in their historical context and understand what their authors intended.
Theobald explained how many contemporary debates, including those about individual rights, government power, economic inequality and free markets, stem from ideas that emerged in 1776.
“Understanding the longstanding philosophical debates about ideas like freedom, justice and human flourishing will only help me engage with current issues in a more nuanced fashion,” he wrote.
Senior Haley Garecht wrote that the course has challenged assumptions shaped by modern political divisions.
“As polarization over America’s history continues, and both the far left and far right attack the principles undergirding our nation, this class provides a robust framework for understanding the real intentions and impact of the Founding Fathers,” Garecht said.
The course is also livestreamed for alumni and community members. Joe Massa, class of 1963 and a retired attorney, said engaging with the Constitution has remained central throughout his career.
“Eighteen or 84, you never stop learning,” Massa wrote.
