Word: belled
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...foundation's president told Bell he would give him the money on the condition that he make one great prediction for the future. Bell's single prediction: that there would be presidential elections in the U.S. in 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976...and, well...up through and beyond the year...
...Bell related this anecdote Wednesday in the introductory lecture for his course "Political Sociology," Sociology 129. Although it was registration day and the first day of "shopping" for classes, he did not allow several students to listen to his lecture because they arrived after he had started speaking. He complained that such interruptions interfere with his lecturing, in which he enters what he calls a "semitrance" state. He was more concerned with maintaining his trance than with teaching--the ostensible purpose of his lecture...
Political sociology is, according to Bell, the study of how the extra-political relates to politics. Institutional stability--such as the regularity of American presidential elections--is one component of this...
...Bell's unbridled faith in institutional stability is ironic in light of his disregard for the customs of this institution, Harvard University. Not only did he disregard the principles of the long-established shopping period, he also repudiated students' intellectual curiosity for selfish reasons...
...students Bell turned away, but I was offended by his attitude and treatment of students. My reaction was an emotional one: to leave the class obtrusively, so that Professor Bell would know I was upset, after he had turned away the third or fourth student. Afterwards, I wished I'd explained my action and roused others to leave in protest with me. I'm sure many would have...