Syllabi -- Technology and Society

HUM 110

Technology and Society

Professor Steven Kreis

COURSE OBJECTIVES ?This course will address the social, political, economic and intellectual implications of technological change. This is not a course about “how things work.?The course combines a historical survey that considers the divorce between technology and science from the time of early man and the ancient world through the 19^th century, when the interests of both science and technology merged. We will then address contemporary issues such as the Internet, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and the revolution in information technology. The general theme of the course can be stated as follows:

Technological breakthroughs come in clusters, interacting with each other in a process of increasing returns. Technological innovation is not an isolated instance. It reflects a given state of knowledge, a particular institutional and industrial environment, a certain availability of skills, an economic mentality, and a network of producers and users who can communicate their experiences and learn by using and by doing.

OFFICIAL COURSE DESCRIPTION ?This course considers technological change from historical, artistic, and philosophical perspectives and its effect on human needs and concerns. Emphasis is placed on the causes and consequences of technological change. Upon completion, students should be able to critically evaluate the implications of technology.

COURSE PREREQUISITES ?ENG 090 AND RED 090 or placement scores.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS ?Attendance and informed participation at all class meetings is required. This means that you show up to class on a regular basis and complete your assignments on time. The entire success of the course, both from my standpoint and yours, is that you get involved, get interested and get motivated to study the implications of technological change. Education is nothing more than dialogue, and according to the master of dialogue, Socrates, good dialogue ought to improve both the instructor and the student. Above all, you will be challenged to think and discuss freely and openly.

HUM110 WEBSITE ?You MUST have a valid email address as well as Internet access. This class has a companion website located at http://www.historyguide.org/hum110. This website includes the syllabus, all lectures, outlines, handouts, and essay topics.

THE CLASS ?My conduct in the class is based on genuine respect for the intellect of the student. My approach is informal and at times, irreverent. Just the same, I take my work very seriously and I expect you to do so as well. If you miss any class it is your responsibility to make sure that you make up for lost ground. If you are not prepared to at least think about our subject, then I suggest you will have a tough time overall. In other words, come to class prepared to learn, have fun, and above all, THINK!

REQUIRED TEXTS ?nbsp; The following texts are available at the bookstore or online:

Arnold Pacey, Meaning in Technology

Philip Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

In addition, you will also read three essays that you will receive as handouts. These essays are also available online ?these essays have already been printed so there is no need to print an online copy.

1. E. M. Forster, The Machine Stops (1909)

2. Bill Joy, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?(2000)

3. Ray Kurzweil, “Promise or Peril?(2003)

GRADING ?Your final grade will be determined by the successful completion of the course. In that regard, the breakdown of the course is as follows:

Test 1 10%

Test 2 10%

Test 3 15%

Essay 1 20%

Essay 2 20%

Oral Presentation 15%

Class Participation 10%

LECTURES, FILMS, DISCUSSIONS, AND READINGS
August 16	Course Introduction
August 18	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: The Neolithic Revolution http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/neolithic.html
August 21	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: Mesopotamia, Egypt and Muscle-Flexing http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/meso_egypt.html
August 23	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: The Greeks http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/greeks.html
August 25	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: Plato and Aristotle http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/plato_aristotle.html Read: Forster, The Machine Stops
August 28	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: Hellenistic Developments http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/hellensitic.html Read: Forster, The Machine Stops
August 30	Lecture: Science and Technology in the Ancient World: The Romans http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/romans.html Read: Forster, The Machine Stops
September 1	TEST 1: Science and Technology in the Ancient World Read: Forster, The Machine Stops
September 4	NO CLASSES
September 6	DISCUSSION: Forster, The Machine Stops
September 8	Lecture: Beyond Europe ?Byzantine and Islamic Developments http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/byz_islam.html Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 1-55
September 11	ESSAY 1 DUE: Forster, The Machine Stops Lecture: Beyond Europe ?China http://www.historyguide.org.hum110/china.html Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 1-55
September 13	Lecture: Beyond Europe ?Mesoamerica http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/mesoamerica.html Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 1-55
September 15	DISCUSSION: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 1-55)
September 18	Film: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 59-98
September 20	Film: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 59-98
September 22	Film: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) Read: Pacey, Meaning in Technology, pp. 59-98
September 25	DISCUSSION: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 59-98)
September 27	Lecture: Medieval Technology ?Medieval Microchips and the Agricultural Revolution http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/med_microchips.html
September 29	Lecture: Medieval Technology ?From the Stirrup to Natural Philosophy http://www.histoyguide.org/hum110/stirrup.html
October 2	Lecture: Medieval Technology ?The Gunpowder Revolution and World Domination http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/gunpowder.html
October 4	TEST 2: Understanding Medieval Technology
October 6	NO CLASSES READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 9	NO CLASSES READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 11	Lecture: The Scientific Revolution, 1543-1700 http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/sci_rev1.html READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 13	Lecture: The Scientific Revolution, 1543-1700 http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/sci_rev2.html READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 16	Lecture: The Scientific Revolution, 1543-1700 http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/sci_rev3.html READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 18	Lecture: The Origins of the Industrial Revolution in Britain http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/ind_rev.html READ: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103-222)
October 20	DISCUSSION: Pacey, Meaning in Technology (pp. 103--222) READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
October 23	Lecture: The American System of Manufacture READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
October 25	Lecture: The American System of Manufacture, continued READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
October 27	Film: Clockwork DISCUSSION: Taylorism and Scientific Management READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
October 30	Film: Modern Times (1936) READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
November 1	DISCUSSION: Mass Production READ: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
November 3	DISCUSSION: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
November 6	ESSAY 2 DUE: Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ORAL REPORTS READ: Joy, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?and Kurzweil, “Promise or Peril?/font>
November 8	ORAL REPORTS READ: Joy, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?and Kurzweil, “Promise or Peril?/font>
November 10	ORAL REPORTS READ: Joy, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?and Kurzweil, “Promise or Peril?/font>
November 13	DISCUSSION: Joy, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?and Kurzweil, “Promise or Peril?/font>
November 15	ORAL REPORTS
November 17	ORAL REPORTS
November 20	ORAL REPORTS
November 22	No Classes
November 24	No Classes
November 27	ORAL REPORTS
November 29	ORAL REPORTS
December 1	ORAL REPORTS
December 4	Film: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
December 6	Film: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
December 8	Lecture: The Information Technology Revolution ?The Digital World http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/digital.html
December 11	Lecture: The Information Technology Revolution ?The Internet Revolution http://www.historyguide.org/hum110/internet.html
December 13	Lecture: The Information Technology Revolution ?Silicon Valley http://ww.historyguide.org/hum110/silicon.html
December 15	TEST 3: The Information Technology Revolution