Do You Live in a Computer? Current and Future Realities
Manuel Barrantes
What if, in the future, computers are so powerful that they can run computer games that replicate exactly the way our world is? Can these computer games become so sophisticated that they include actual reproductions of human minds? Could they actually exist now, as you read this? In this class, we will address these and other striking questions about technology and philosophy. We will learn different theories about the relationships between the mind and the brain and whether Artificial Intelligence is a real possibility. The background knowledge we gain will help us address questions like "could we be living in a computer simulation?" The class includes exploring some popular films and television shows relevant to the topic, as well as interaction with some Turing Machines like Cleverbot.
Electric/Automated Vehicle Technologies and the Associated Impact on the Future
Tom Dietz
What if, in the future, computers are so powerful that they can run computer games that replicate exactly the way our world is? Can these computer games become so sophisticated that they include actual reproductions of human minds? Could they actually exist now, as you read this? In this class, we will address these and other striking questions about technology and philosophy. We will learn different theories about the relationships between the mind and the brain and whether Artificial Intelligence is a real possibility. The background knowledge we gain will help us address questions like "could we be living in a computer simulation?" The class includes exploring some popular films and television shows relevant to the topic, as well as interaction with some Turing Machines like Cleverbot.
Exploring the Properties of Gases
Michael Farabaugh
Although gases are all around us, we tend to ignore them because they are invisible. In this hands-on course, we will explore the physical and chemical properties of gases. This includes the relationships between variables, such as pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of gas (moles). We will see how the kinetic-molecular theory of gases helps to explain and predict gas behavior. Reactions involving hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases will be examined. Intermolecular forces will be discussed as they relate to the process of a gas changing into a liquid or a solid.
Folklore, Fables, Fairytales, and Their Retelling In Russia
Tierre Sanford
What makes stories like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and "Cinderella" so beloved and enduring? What were these stories like originally and how do we think about them today? From the Russian rusalka to retellings of fairy tales in Soviet times and the more modern horror stories of Petrushevskaya, we will examine the commonalities and differences between American and Russian folklore, fables, and fairy tales. We will look at literary, artistic, and film adaptations of these beloved stories, tracing their transformation in plot, genre, characterization, and more. The class will be given the opportunity to create their own fables and fairy tales, adopting a Russian or American model or attempting to create their own version of a well-loved classic.
Greatness through Game Theory
Simonas Cepenas
Math is an important part of our everyday lives. For example, game theory, which involves mathematical models of conflict and cooperation, can be discussed in subjects like economics, political science, psychology, and biology. In this course, you will learn how to use game theory for everything from finding winning strategies for popular games to predicting future events. We will do a number of experiments to discover when it is better to cooperate and when it is better to compete with your colleagues in order to win. In this class, active participation and group work will drive our learning as you gain problem-solving skills, learn how to think strategically, and study how to mathematically depict strategies.
Shakespeare's Tragedies: Exploring the Mind of Man
Rachel Newman
Shakespeare’s tragedies have it all: love, loyalty, family drama, betrayal—even madness and death. These are some of the core themes we will discuss in order to better understand both Shakespeare’s mind and the minds he was portraying. We will study Shakespeare within his historical and cultural context, and dive into scenes from some of his major tragedies, such as King Lear, Hamlet, and Macbeth. In this course, we will parse Shakespeare’s language word by word, and students will become more comfortable with Elizabethan drama by acting out scenes. What types of incredible, paradoxical and complicated minds was Shakespeare creating when he wrote his tragedies, and how does tragedy matter as a genre in our own time? These are some of the questions my course will seek to answer as students explore some of Shakespeare’s most intensely crafted minds.