Course Syllabus

 

HPSC-X 100/220 - PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE FICTION

 

Spring 2006

 

Meeting Time: 5:30-6:45 Monday & Wednesday

Meeting Place: Wiekamp 1185

Instructor: L. Zynda

 

General Course Description: In this course, we will examine various philosophical issues that arise in science fiction novels, short stories, films, and television series. Topics to be discussed include the relations between biology, technology, and the nature of the human person; the nature of intelligence and consciousness; the limits of knowledge and the relationship between appearance and reality; the logical puzzles that arise when imagining time travel; and personal identity. For each topic, we will read or view works in science fiction accompanied by complementary philosophical selections (both classic and contemporary). This is a multimedia course: in addition to readings, we will also discuss science fiction films and episodes from television series such as Star Trek.

 

Required Texts: Course readings include three novels, several short stories, and selections from a number of philosophical and scientific articles. The short stories and philosophical readings will be available on Oncourse. You may print them from there or read them onscreen. The three novels (available at the bookstore) are Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick, and Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley.

 

Movies: Although the assigned television episodes will be shown during class, due to time constraints, it is impossible to show the assigned films in their entirety during class. Consequently, students will be required to watch the assigned films on their own time (on video or DVD). For any films not widely available in local video stores, a public showing will be arranged. Dates for these showings will be announced as the class proceeds.

 

Basis for Grading:

• X100: X100 students will have two short (4-5 page) papers, three exams, and true-or-false quizzes each meeting day over the assigned readings, administered through Oncourse. The course grade will be determined as follows: papers (15% each); exams (20% each); quizzes (10% collectively).
• X220: X220 students will do the same papers, exams, and quizzes as X100 students, and in addition, an individualized 6-8 page term project. The following schedule applies for the term project: prospectus (due March 6); draft (due April 5); finished project (due April 24). The course grade will be determined as follows: papers (10% each); exams (15% each); quizzes (10% collectively); term project (25%).

 

Schedule

 

January 9 - Introduction

 

I. Artificial Biological Persons

January 11 - Frankenstein, Letters; Chapters 1-6 (pages 1-54)

January 18 - Frankenstein, Chapters 7-13 (pages 55-102)

January 23 - Frankenstein, Chapters 14-20 (pages 103-152); Gary Hatfield, "The Body: A Mind of Its Own" (Public Lecture, Wiekamp 1001)

January 25 - Frankenstein, Chapters 21-24; Afterword (pages 153-210)

January 30 - Julia Douthwaite, "The Prehistory of Frankenstein" (Public Lecture, Weikamp 1001)

February 1 - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Chapters 1-7 (pages 3-83)

February 6 -  Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Chapters 8-14 (pages 84-165); Lyle Zynda, "Philosophical Themes in Philip Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Blade Runner" (Public Lecture, Wiekamp 1001)

February 8 - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Chapters 15-22 (pages 166-244)

February 13 - Descartes, selections from Meditations on First Philosophy, Discourse on Method, and Treatise on Man

February 15 - Exam 1

 

II. Artificial Mechanical Persons

February 20 - Asimov, "The Bicentennial Man"; Lycan, an excerpt from Consciousness

February 22 - Searle, "Minds, Brains, and Programs"; selected replies to Searle from Behavioral and Brain Sciences

 

Spring Recess - February 25-March 5

 

March 6 - Discussion of 2001: A Space Odyssey (movie); Paper 1 Due

March 8 - In-class showing and discussion of "The Measure of a Man" (an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation)

March 13 - Hanley, "Pro Creation" (abridged) (Chapter 3 from The Metaphysics of Star Trek)

 

III. Altering Ourselves (Genetic Engineering, etc.)

March 15 - Kant, selections from Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals; Mill, selections from Utilitarianism

March 20 - Discussion of GATTACA (movie); McGee, selections from Chapters 2-4 of The Perfect Baby: Parenthood in the New World of Cloning and Genetics

 

March 22 - Exam 2

March 27 - Brave New World, Chapters 1-5

March 29 - Brave New World, Chapters 6-11

April 3 - Brave New World, Chapters 12-18

April 5 - Vonnegut, "Harrison Bergeron," "Welcome to the Monkey House," and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"

 

IV. Reality, Time, and Personal Identity

April 10 - Descartes, selections from the Meditations; Discussion of The Matrix (movie); Zynda, "Was Cypher Right? Part II: The Nature of Reality and Why It Matters"

April 12 - Lewis, "The Paradoxes of Time Travel"; Heinlein, "All You Zombies—"

April 17 - In-class showing and discussion of "The City on the Edge of Forever" (an episode of Star Trek)

April 19 - In-class showing and discussion of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (an episode of Star Trek); Paper 2 Due

April 24 - Locke, Essay on Human Understanding, Chapter 27; Zynda, "Who Am I? Personal Identity in the Original Star Trek"

April 26 - Reid, "On Mr. Locke's Theory of Personal Identity," from Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man; Parfit, "Reductionism and Personal Identity"; Dick, "Impostor"

May 1 - Exam 3