Metropolitan Community College
Class Syllabus – Fall, 2013
CLASS IDENTIFICATION
TITLE:
Transhumanism Challenges
PREFIX/SECTION:
PHIL 2900 99
CREDIT HOURS:
4.5
CLASS BEGINS/ENDS:
9/03/2013 – 11/18/13.
MEETING DAY(S)/TIMES: Th/F online (Angel Enhanced), research progress tutoring
www.mccneb.edu/schedule
NO CLASS DAYS:
N/A
WITHDRAWAL DATE:
10/30/13 IMPORTANT DATES
link. at www.mccneb.edu/schedule, find the class section, and select the
CLASS LOCATION:
Research progress: Fridays, South Campus, MHY, 213
LAB LOCATION:
CONTACT INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR NAME:
OFFICE LOCATION:
OFFICE TELEPHONE:
FACSIMILE:
OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
FACULTY WEB SITE:
ACADEMIC AREA:
Rayka Rush, Ph.D.
South Campus, MHY, 213
402-738-4667
Fridays, 12 – 1 p.m.
(if applicable)
Humanities and Visual Arts
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed as the independent research project in Special Topics. The instructor and
student work on the research project topics, short written discussions and papers offered via the
Angel system, and discuss research projects in person as arranged and needed.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
Ne course in Humanities and Philosophy area required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Research in the field of Transhumanism topics relevant to the questions of the future of
humanity, focus on theoretical, ethical, and practical aspects of Transhumanism trends relevant
to a deeper research in Philosophy and Science.
REQUIRED & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: Offered online by the Instructor.
\ SOFTWARE/FILE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Metropolitan Community College uses Microsoft products as part of its standard software and
encourages students to do the same. You may save word-processed documents for file
attachments in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx format. If your software does not allow either of
these, then save files in Rich Text Format (.rtf).
CLASS STRUCTURE:
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT WORK
TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Class discussions covering major research topics (three discussions per one larger topic).
2. Short research paper response for each research topic.
3. One hour consultations and meetings with the instructor, which purpose is to comment on
students’ discussions and response paper and direct the student in further research
material.
GRADING POLICY:
1. Student responses to the discussions: 400 points
2. Students’ short research papers: 500 points
3. Consultations on the research progress (3): 100 points
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM:
1. Active research and reading offered by the instructor in the Angel system.
2. Responses to the discussions.
3. Writing of the short research responses to the topics.
.
USE OF STUDENT WORK:
By enrolling in classes offered by Metropolitan Community College, the student gives the
College license to mark on, modify, and retain the work as may be required by the process of
instruction, as described in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the
work in any other manner without the written consent of the student(s).
INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY:
WX: After the first class meeting and through the Census Date, the instructor will disenroll
(WX) students who have never attended. The Census Date is listed under the Important Dates for
the course in the official Class Schedule at http://www.mccneb.edu/schedule/.
FX: An FX is a final grade given to a student who stops attending a class, does not return, and
fails.
COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS:
Communicate with the instructor on by-weekly basis and follow offered discussions and research
agenda.
RECORDING IN THE CLASSROOM:
Students may not video or audio record class sessions without the instructor’s knowledge and
permission. If recording of class sessions is authorized as a reasonable accommodation under
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the instructor must have the appropriate documentation
from College Disability Support Services. Permitted recordings are to be used only for the
individual student’s educational review of the class session and may not be reproduced, posted,
sold or distributed to others. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary
procedures as outlined in the Student Conduct Code.
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for classwork may be subject to
copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website
at http://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student
dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.), the College imposes
specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course,
suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are
available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or at http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf.
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL:
If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw through My
Services on the MCC My Way portal at http://myway.mccneb.edu or by calling Central
Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in
either an attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted
in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus.
LEARNING SUPPORT
MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly,
supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff
members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math,
and writing skills. Self-paced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary,
typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available.
Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the My Way
portal, the College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented qualifying disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations
from Disability Support Services (DSS) located in each Student Services Office. After students
have arranged for accommodations with DSS, the student and instructor should privately discuss
these accommodations. For further information, please contact DSS or visit
http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help
Desk at 402-457-2900 or mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES:
By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and
phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan
Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology
and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full
text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website:
http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X-15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.
PHIL 2900 Special Topics, Fall Quarter 2013, Forms of Transhumanism and New Cosmology
Research Topics/Time Research Schedules:
09/03/2013 – 10/05/2013
I. Transhumanism and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Merging AI, Machines Like Us (four weeks)
a) 80s - 90s. Forms of Genetic Algorithms;
b) Merging with Machines: Building Computers as Brains; similarities between the human brain
(neuroscience) and computing;
c) Contrast and Comparison: John Searle, Paul Churchill, David Eagleman, Ray Kurzweil, the Blue
Brain Project--reverse engineering; The gap between computing and consciousness. Can Nanotechnology overcome this gap? The quantum computing in the brain in comparison to quantum
computing (can quantum computing overcome binary computer systems?). Discussion 1 Due
Date
d) The Internet (Michael Persinger): No More Secrets? Privacy issues and merging into a hive
consciousness. Discussion 2
e) Emergence of the Bio-Computing and new AI (Kevin Warwic) Discussion 3
f) Conclusions: The Future of Humanity, Is transhumanism and emergence with new AI a step of a
new humanity’s evolution? Discussing consciousness and rights of emerging AI entities.
Colloquium, consultations and meeting with the instructor, discussion on students’ research
project: 10/04/13 12- 2 p.m.
05/10/2013 – 25/10/2013
II. Ethical Concerns and Transhumanism
a) Means of dependency on the Internet, wireless devices, and satellite systems? Merging into a
Hive Consciousness? Can social engineering be easier with the means of advanced technologies?
Discussion 4.
b) Bioethics (Jonathan D. Moreno): Altering human genetics, examples: PGD practices; Creating the
super-soldier; Are such practices new forms of “eugenics;” what are the benefits and concerns?
Discussion 5.
c) Video-games, virtual reality: Examples: From the Neurosky (telekinesis) to the playing
disengaged war games; Discussion 6.
Transhumanism between the mind control, mind alteration, expansion, and enhancement.
Colloquium 2: Consultations, Research Project Progress, meeting with the instructor: November
1, 2013 12 -2 p.m.
III. New Epistemic Awareness and Cosmology
Who are we? What is real?
a) Correspondence between the consciousness and the universe; the holographic nature of the
universe and the brain.
b) Space, Time and Quantum Physics (Lawrence M. Krauss, Brian Greene). Discussions 7
c) Are We Just Simulations on “the Fuzzy Edge of the Universe:” Pros and Cons. Discussion 8.
d) Final Conclusions: Who are we in the context of new Science and Cosmology?
Colloquium 3: Consultations, Research Progress, meeting with the instructor: November 15,
2013. 12 – 2 p.m.