Course Schedule

The schedule of readings will almost certainly change during the course of the semester, depending on the interests in the class. We may not discuss all readings in class, but you should be prepared to discuss the readings if and when they come up in class discussions.

Week 1 (Jan 22-24)
Course Intro: Cybernetics, communication, codes, and control.
Begin Wiener, Human Use of Human Beings Preface.

Week 2 (Jan 29-31)
HUHB chapters 1-3
Response 1 (on negative feedback)

Week 3 (Feb 5-7)
HUHB chapters 4-8
Response 2 (on homeostasis)

Week 4 (Feb 12-14)
HUHB chapters 9-11
Response 3 (on 2nd Industrial Revolution)

Week 5 (Feb 19-21)
Vernor Vinge, "Technological Singularity."
Essay 1 due Feb 21

Week 6 (Feb 26-28)
Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near Prologue and Chapter 1
Response 4 (on predicting future trends)

Week 7 (March 5-7)
TSiN chapter 2 and chapter 3 (sections "The Computational Capacity of the Human Brain" and "The Limits of Computation")
Response 5 (on the life cycle of a technology)

Week 8: (March 12-14)
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Week 9 (March 19-21)
TSiN chapter 4 (sections "Reverse Engineering the Brain," "Is the Human Brain Different from a Computer?" "Interfacing the Brain and Machines," and "Uploading the Human Brain."
Response 6 (on uploading the human brain)

Week 10 (March 26-28)
Cory Doctorow Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom Prologue, chapters 1-3;
TSin chapter 5
Essay 2 due March 28

Week 11 (April 2-4)
TSiN chapters 6-7
Response 7 (on identity)

Week 12 (April 9-11)
TSiN chapters 8 and 9
Response 8 (on the dangers on GNR technologies)

Week 13 (April 16-18)
Garreau, Radical Evolution chapters 1-3
Response 9 (on biological enhancement)

Week 14 (April 23-25)
RE chapters 4-5
Response 10 (on the Hell Scenario)

Week 15 (April 30-May 2)
RE chapters 6-8

Essay 3 (Resarch paper) due May 2

Final Exam: Monday May 14, 1:30-4:15

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