Technology & Human Values

Class Schedule

MIT271b — Technology and Human Values

SOURCES FOR READINGS:

SCHEDULE

1. ONTOLOGY: What general value does technology have? (4 weeks)

(a)Technology and Nature

Jan 8:

FILM: Synthetic Pleasures

Jan 10: DISCUSSION of Synthetic Pleasures

“Value”, RP.

John Allemang, “Oh, for the days when dinner was nasty brutish and short”, RP.

Jan 15:

Morton Winston, “Children of Invention”, Winston & Edelbach (1-19).

(b)Technology and Freedom

Jan 17:

“Positive and Negative Freedom”, RP.

David Strong, “Technological Subversion”, Winston & Edelbach (148-159).

Ray Kurzweil, “The New Luddite Challenge”, Winston & Edelbach (159-162).

Jan 22:

FILM:Fail Safe

Noel PerrIn, “Giving Up the Gun”, Winston & Edelbach (48-52).

David Sanborn Scott, “Energy Dependence: The Best Defence Against Terrorism”,

RP.

OPTIONAL: Christopher Flavin, “Power Shock: The Next Energy Revolution”, Winston

& Edelbach (275-284).

Jan 24:

GUEST SPEAKER: Prof. M. Milde (Philosophy, UWO)

Stacey L. Edgar. “Computers and Privacy”, Winston & Edelbach (205-22).

Jan 29:

Garrett Hardin, “The Tragedy of the Commons”, Winston & Edelbach (284-294).

** Jan 31: TEST on ONTOLOGY: What general value does technology have? **

2. BEAUTY: Technological Aesthetics (2 weeks)

February 5:

“Beauty”, RP.

FILM:Modulations

February 7, 12, 14:

Machine Beauty.

** February 15 - First writing assignment due (if you arranged for that option) **

3.KNOWLEDGE (2 weeks)

a. Can Computers Think?

Feb 19:

John Searle, “God Mind, and Artificial Intelligence” RP

Hans Moravec, “Universal Robots”, Winston & Edelbach (231-241)

b. Learning With Technology

Feb 21:

Margaret Lowe Benston, “Women’s Voices/Men’s Voices: Technology as

Language” RP.

(CONFERENCE WEEK)

March 5:

Neil Postman, “Invisible Technologies”, Winston & Edelbach (83-92).

** March 7: Test on Beauty and Knowledge ***

 4.ETHICS & JUSTICE

 a.Technological Responsibility (3 weeks)

March 12:

“Rights”, RP.

Robert E. McGinn, “Technology, Demography, and the Anachronism of Traditional

Rights” Winston & Edelbach (125-138).

March 14:

Freeman Dyson, “Technology and Social Justice”, Winston & Edelbach (138-148).

March 19:

Corlann Gee Bush, “Women and the Assessment of Technology”, Winston &

Edelbach (69-83).

March 21:

Jeremy Rifkin, “The End of Work”, Winston & Edelbach (164-171).

March 26:

Herbert Schiller, “The Global Information Highway”, Winston & Edelbach (171-81)

John Stackhouse, “The Wired Warrior’s Digital Dream”, RP.

March 28:

Virginia Postrel, “The One Best Way”, Winston & Edelbach (188-99).

 b.Biotechnology, Human Reproduction and Sexuality (2 weeks)

April 2:

FILM:Frankenstein

Russo & Cover: “Frankenstein’s Monster and Other Horror Stories”, W & E (241-6).

April 4:

Robert Wachbroit, “Genetic Encores: The Ethics of Human Cloning”, W & E (253-9).

Judy Wajcman, “Reproductive Technology: Delivered Into Men’s Hands”, (259-274).

April 9:

GUEST SPEAKER: Prof. D. Castle (Philosophy, University of Guelph)

David Shenk, “Biocapitalism: What Price the Genetic Revolution?”, W & E (246-53).

April 11:

Jim Holt, “Single-Egg Theory: Immaculate Conception Without God”, RP.

Susie Bright, “Shiny Plastic Dildos Holding Hands”, RP.

***** FINAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE to FIMS by 4pm Friday April 12 *****

FINAL 2-HOUR TEST on Ethics and Justice to be scheduled during the April

***** examination period — tentatively scheduled for Sunday April 28 at 9am. *****

 


Faculty of Information & Media Studies
University of Western Ontario

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