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Course Description
The course will begin with the concept of Cybernetics, popularized by Norbert Wiener's Human Use of Human Beings, a book he wrote (in 1950) specifically to explain cybernetics to the interested non-expert. Cybernetics, as Wiener and the first generation of computer engineers defined it, is the science of control and communication in machines, animals, and human beings. Cybernetics gave us the concepts of "cyberspace" and the "cybernetic organism"—the cyborg. We will explore both of these concepts by studying later technological advances in computer science, biology, and the arts.
Texts:
Print:
Norbert Wiener. The Human Use of Human Beings. ISBN 0306803208
(15.00)
Kurzweil, Ray. The Age of Spiritual Machines. ISBN 0140282025 (20.00)
Prices as of January 2011. If you are charged more at the bookstore,
let me know.
Both are availble as e-books as well, but the Wiener e-book is of poor quality.
Online:
Vernor Vinge, "Technological
Singularity"
Bill Joy "Why
the Future Doesn't Need Us"
Several talks from TED.com
Course Site:
We will use Blackboard for online discussion postings and responses.
Assignments:
The assignments in this course consist of three essays, weekly reading responses, and a final exam. The first essay will be an analysis of some complex system in light of Norbert Wiener's concept of cybernetics. The system may be biological, social, mechanical, digital, or any combination of these. The second essay will be on Kurzweil's vision of technological progress. The third essay will be research topic on one of the "Big Questions" from the Edge World Question Center.
The weekly responses will be posted to Blackboard. The weekly responses will be on a specific question which I will post, and they will be due before class on most Mondays (if there is an essay due that week, there is no weekly response). You may add to your posts after class, of course. I will also ask you to comment on the posts of other students. To earn full credit for the responses, you must post 10 weekly responses, and comment on at least five of your fellow students' posts.
The final exam will be a cumulative in-class short essay exam. I will post study terms a week or so before the exam. The exam date is. Bluebooks are not required, but they are convenient.
| Essay 1 | Feb. 17 | 20% |
| Essay 2 | March 24 | 20% |
| Essay 3 | May 3 | 25% |
| Weekly readings responses | most Mondays | 20% |
| Final Exam | Monday, May 5, 10:30 - 1:15 | 15% |
Course Policies
Grading: Grades on the essays will be based primarily on the quality of the writing. I value clear, focused writing with plenty of examples. Grades on the research essay will be based on the quality of the research as well: I expect you to use the GMU LIbrary databases as well as the Internet.
Late Assignments: Late papers will
lose one-half letter grade per day unless you make prior arrangements with
me.
Revision Policy: The essays may be revised for a higher grade,
but they must be substantially revised. You cannot lose a grade by
revising, but a higher grade is not guaranteed. I have found that "B" papers
(or higher) are often more difficult to revise, since serious revision
requires thoroughly changing the essay's structure, and "B" papers
usually have a fairly good structure. "C" papers (or lower) often
respond more dramatically to revision, since the major changes they require
are often more straightforward. I recommend revising "C" papers
or lower only. If you plan to revise a "B" paper, please
see me beforehand so we can discuss a revision strategy.
All revisions must be turned in by April 23
Plagiarism: The
GMU Honor Code is available online. I will report suspected
cases of plagiarism to the Honor Committee.
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