HISC 128Why Obey?
We are everyday confronted with countless expectations of obedience—at home, work, while studying or at worship; with parents, teachers, the police. Some demands are formal and public, others are informal, unwritten norms, or habitual codes of conduct. Basic observation of the vast range of rules, norms, and codes that demand compliance invites a range of questions, from a diverse set of perspectives. In response to this challenge, this course examines the theory and practice of disobedience across a range of time periods and contexts. Course considers examples of conscientious objection, riots, strikes, direct action and the like, ultimately seeking to answer: why and how do people disobey?
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When it runs
Fall 2026Open Fall 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 5:20pm–6:55pm | Earth&Marine B206 | R. Nichols | Wait List 106/120 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Nichols | 4.2 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 | 60% | 5 |
From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.
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