A general education course for sophomores at Baker University entitled "Shaping of Western Thought" is described. The goals of the university's general education program are enumerated and the ways in which this course serves those purposes are discussed. Focus in the course is on both personal and social values. Three values--love, peace, and freedom--are examined. Alternative definitions of these ideas, as they have emerged from particular historical contexts, and their manifold implications for individuals and groups are considered. The contexts in question are great cities in the Western tradition, such as Athens, Rome, Paris, London, and New York. It is hoped that students will come to appreciate the interrelationships between the ideas and attitudes that individuals and groups cherish and the natural and social environments in which they live and work. A brief evaluation of student response to the course is also provided. (Author/LBH)