This course situates theories of nature, culture, and the self in a broad historical context, bracketing modern and contemporary texts. Readings include work in artificial intelligence, biology, feminist theory, history, philosophy, science fiction, and science studies by Darwin, Dennett, Descartes, Dick, Haraway, Hinton, Powers, Searle, and Shapin. Written assignments include several short essays and a final exam. The course is taught by Ringen and Snider. This course is a study of risks in society, their perception, assessment, and management with particular attention to the legal and cultural concerns.
Course work includes several varied writing assignments, discussion, and exams.
This course looks at literature and the arts in multicultural context, with specific attention to ways themes and texts have been read, interpreted, and varied in U.S. culture. Readings include examples from journalism, theater, law, and the arts. Hancher Auditorium performances make up part of the assigned material to provide examples of relations among the arts and society that are the center of this course. Exams are given and several essays of various sorts are assigned. The instructors are Alexander and Nelson.