COURSE
Questions (some of the primary questions dealt with in this course)
Description of Course:
One of the most extraordinary efforts of twentieth century science and
technology has been the attempt to create artificial intelligence in machines.
The very possibility of artificial intelligence inspires profound questions: Can
machines think? Can brains be thought of as a kind of machine? Is language
necessary for intelligence? Is having a conscious mind necessary for
intelligence? How are mind and brain related? In this course you will
learn about the contributions to the interdisciplinary research and debates
concerning the nature of intelligence and mind made by scientists and scholars
in a variety of fields. We will watch and contemplate interviews with top
scientists in the field, watch and discuss science fictional representations of
A.I. and participate in the ongoing debate about whether efforts to create
thinking, conscious machines is wise or foolish.
GNST 1300 01 is described online as:
Some scientists believe it is possible to create machines that can actually
think for themselves or to create robosapiens. Efforts to create artificial
intelligence in our computers and robots and to merge natural and artificial
intelligence raise many issues about what it means to be human, the difference
between the mind and a computer, is it possible for a man-made machine to
develop a sense of itself and have its own personal goals? The course explores
the efforts to generate artificial intelligence, what it is and why scientists
are trying to create machines that can think for themselves as well as what the
consequences might be for human society if the effort should succeed. The books
and the movies we read and watch will explore the efforts to create intelligent
thinking machines and the issues involved. Students will be provided the
experience of interacting with artificial intelligence as it has been developed
to date. A Liberal Arts Minor Course.
Required Texts (available in the bookstore):
Session Topics and Reading and Video Assignments per Lecture:
Please
take note: try to read through the pages I recommend in the two texts as soon as you can get through
them. Although much of the lecture material will be based upon the texts,
I will not follow the texts chapter by chapter so it is important to read
through not the whole books necessarily but at least through the pages I suggest
for each book. Try to have the pages of these read before the fourth session. Focus first on the
Robosapien book and then on the Abolition of Man. Other hand outs will be provided during the weekly
sessions.
Possible Session Topics
Assignments and Grading:
- No Exams for this course - but an Inquiry Portfolio and class
participation will be the basis for your grade
- Reading - Try to read the assigned pages in the texts as early on as you can in the course
- Inquiry Portfolio or alternatives - Artificial Intelligence and the Nature of Minds, Brains, Machines and Consciousness
and the Implications of the Efforts to "Create a robosapien".: The focus of your
portfolio should address the general issue of how
and why scientists are attempting to create the human mind and consciousness within machines. In your
portfolio you are to summarize the issues,
questions, controversies and general overview of the topic as well as elaborate
on your understanding of whether it will ever be logically possible and
technically possible for man to create a truly thinking and conscious thing. Your
portfolio is to include articles you have gleaned out of magazines,
newspapers, off the internet or chapters from the Robosapien text book.
Attach to these five articles the Inquiry Form filled in with your analysis for the
article. A copy of the Inquiry Form you are to
use in your anaylsis of the items is found by clicking HERE.
-
If a student would prefer to create a video tape documentary on these topics he
could interview each student in his group and others outside the class, putting
to various persons from various age groups and walks of life and belief systems
the questions we are dealing with in class and then on the video make his own
synopsis and offer his own reasons for his convictions about A.I. If a
student is good with graphics/artistic/photographic medium, he might want to generate some
art work for his portfolio that expresses his thoughts and the thoughts of
others or he might incorporate images others have produced about the issues we
cover and write a paragraph or so about each image.
Examples of images created by artists about A.I. You might try
to write some poems about A.I. and the issues we discuss. For example read
this poem about the Artificially Intelligent Car or read
this one entitled Oxie Moron. Each week you may turn in a copy of your Inquiry
Porfolio for me to review and give a tentative grade - the grade will not be
permanent for that portion of the portfolio but will come with suggested
revisions or simply a statement well done with a grade of A. If I give
less than the grade of A for a weekly portfolio review you may resubmit it
with my suggested revisions or additions.
- In-Class Writings: Over the course of the semester there will
be 7 short (10 min.) in-class writings dealing with artificial
intelligence/brain/mind/soul
topics which have been presented in the lecture or in readings for the class
session. CLICK HERE to see the in
class writing form you will be using. Your best 5 writings will contribute to your course grade
- Inquiry Porfolio Presentation - at the 8th session each student will
present their Inquiry Portfolios and are to be alloted 15-20 minutes.
In your inquiry portfolio please consider using the Postive/Negative
deductions about any A.I. computer innovation. See
this example.
- Grading: Each of the assignments contributes to your grade in
the percentage shown below. Letter grades are given for each assignment
and these are then converted into grade points for calculating the final
grade which will be your average grade for all assignments.
Inquiry Papers - 50 %
In-Class Writings - 25%
Final Portfolio Presentation - 25%
Discussion Group and Presentation - Credit/No Credit
Please Note:
- If you are ill and must miss an in-class writing, or a group
discussion session you must call me on the day of the absence and speak to me to
arrange for a make-up.
- Use my e-mail address
kkindt@earthlink.net for asking questions which you feel were not
made clear in lecture or for posing any interesting questions which you
would like to have addressed in lectures.
- If you would like to have feedback on your inquiry papers turn them in each
week and I will return them to you with comments and a tentative grade.
The tentative grade (if not an A) can be upgraded by following suggestions I
make to you about the inquiry and updating the paper.
- Incomplete grades are given for serious and compelling medical reasons
only.
- Please inform me if you have any special needs with regard to seating,
testing, or tutoring.