Welcome to UNIV 200-07 “Digital Transcendence“, the Integrated Perspectives course taught by Prof. John Hunter (Comparative & Digital Humanities) and Prof. Felipe Perrone (Computer Science).
Course description
This IP course is about how digital technology has disrupted our definitions of “intelligence,” “mind,” and “humanity” and how, in turn, humanistic thought has revealed the biases, unconscious prejudices, and conceptual limits of computing, artificial intelligence, and networked digital technology (especially in terms of race and gender). We will study what it means to call a computer program “intelligent” and why the human brain might not be the limit of the human mind. Our goal for this guided exploration of the intersections between digital technology and humanity is to explore whether the digital era really is a new, unprecedented development in human history or the continuation of the technological thinking that was instituted by Aristotle . . . and whether non-Western thinking might offer other conceptual options.
We will study moral philosophy, literature, science, websites, and science fiction, and by exploring these topics also through film, popular music, design, and even architecture. Our approach will not be to alternate between computer science and humanistic perspectives, but to apply both of them at once (and maybe others as well) – because intellectual disciplinary limits conceal as much as they reveal.
Vigorous participation in all class sessions is expected from all participants (students and faculty) as we seek to investigate ways of thinking about how technology is affecting our humanity and vice versa.
Throughout the semester, students will keep journals updated weekly with responses to our materials and class discussions. At the end of the semester, students will select a topic for deeper exploration and will consolidate their ideas as a project on a medium of their choosing such as video, podcast, essay film, web-based media project, or conventional paper.
Instructional materials include selected readings from literature, fiction and nonfiction; films; streaming and TV shows; journalistic and scientific articles; music.
We expect that students will visit this site and the course site on Moodle daily in order to stay up to date with reading and writing assignments.
