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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 21 – 23): Course
Introduction and Concepts
Cybernetics, communication, codes, and control.
Begin Wiener, Human Use of Human Beings Preface and Ch 1
Week 2 (Jan 28 – 30): Feedback
HUHB chapters 2-4
Response 1 (on negative feedback)
Week 3 (Feb 4 – 6): Homeostasis
HUHB chapters 5-8
Response 2 (on homeostasis)
Week 4 (Feb 11 – 13): the 2nd Industrial
revolution
HUHB chapters 9-11
Response 3 (on 2nd Industrial Revolution)
Week 5 (Feb 18 – 20): Technological Singularity
Vernor Vinge, "Technological
Singularity."
TED Talk: Kevin
Kelly on How
Technology Evolves
Essay 1 due
Feb 21
Week 6 (Feb 25 – 27): Predicting
the Future
Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near Prologue and Chapter 1
Response 4 (on predicting future trends)
Week 7 (March 4 – 6): Technological Progress
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 (Spring
Break)
Week 9 (March 18 – 20): Mind and Machine
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."
TED Talk: Tan Le: A
Headset that Reads Your Brainwaves
Response 6 (on uploading the human brain)
Week 10 (March 25 – 27): GNR
TSiN chapter 5
TED Talk: Sheila Nirenberg: A Prosthetic Eye to Treat Blindness and Nirenberg Q&A
Essay 2 due March
28
Week 11 (April 1 –3) : Research and Technology
Google, Databases, and Wikipedia
Synthesis: Using & Citing Sources
Robin Hanson "The Economics of the Singularity" and "When the Economy Transcends Humanity"
Response 7 (Research Topics)
Week 12 (April 8 – 10): Impacts and Identity
TSiN chapters 6-7
Response 8 (on identity)
Week 13 (April 15 – 17) On the Other Hand
TSiN chapters 8 and 9
Bill Joy : "Why
the Future Doesn't Need Us"
Response 9 (on Joy)
Week 14 (April 22 – 24): In Conclusion
Francis Fukuyama: Transhumanism
Ronald Bailey: "Transhumanism, The Most Dangerous Idea?" (response to Fukuyama)
Nick Bostrum: In Defense of Posthuman Dignity
Week 15 (April 29 – May 1):
Peer Review of Research paper April 29
Exam Prep
Research Paper due
Tuesday May 6
Final Exam: Tues May 13, 12:00 – 2:00
Note new time
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons License.