Readings:

John Bargh and Katelyn McKenna: The Internet and Social Life

Study Question:

1. What is the main effect of technology on the political or social life in your region? Be sure to explain clearly what you mean by “your region.”

2. What ethical concerns do you find that are particularly important in the research, reported by the Bargh and McKenna’s article, on how the Internet affects interpersonal interaction? Why do Bargh and McKenna suggest that trust is a key element in Internet usage? Do you agree with them? Which additional ethical issue, among those provided in the list of our weekly readings, do you believe to be particularly important for us, today, and for our culture?

Initial discussion posts are due by Thursday at 11:30PM ET and at least three responses to fellow classmates are expected by the end of the week on Sunday by 11:30PM ET.

Readings:

Langdon Winner: Do Artifacts Have Politics?

Study Question:

1. Do you think social media is beneficial or harmful? Explain. Focus your response on your immediate personal and professional sphere. Be as specific as you possibly can.

2. Explain, in your own words, at least one of Winner’s examples of political technology. You will see that he will distinguish between two kinds of politics in technology. Make sure you explain why your example is part of one or the other. Also, comment on the claims in Winner’s last paragraph. Provide at least one reason why you think he is right or wrong. What is your position on at least one of the issues raised by this philosopher?

Initial discussion posts are due by Thursday at 11:30PM ET and at least three responses to fellow classmates are expected by the end of the week on Sunday by 11:30PM ET.

Readings:

John Markoff: The Rapid Advance of Artificial Intelligence

Study Question:

1. Is there a single technology that is widely used today that will be marginalized or disappear in the next twenty years?   Identify very carefully this technology and try to supply an image or video of it if you can.

2. Briefly summarize the main advances of artificial intelligence, as reported by The New York Times article, by John Markoff (see The Rapid Advance of Artificial Intelligence). Do you think these advances are more or less likely to be beneficial for the next generations? Consider at least one advantage and one disadvantage.

Initial discussion posts are due by Thursday at 11:30PM ET and at least three responses to fellow classmates are expected by the end of the week on Sunday by 11:30PM ET.

Readings:

Bill Joy: Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us

Ray Kurzweil: Promise and Peril

Study Question:

1. At present, what is at least one major difference in the use of technology between two different regions of the world (continents, nations, or cultures)? Explain.

2. What is Luddism and what is Joy and Kurzweil’s position on it? Is technology inevitably a double-edged sword, according to Joy and Kurzweil? Whose line of reasoning do you find more convincing, Joy’s or Kurzweil’s? Why?

Initial discussion posts are due by Thursday at 11:30PM ET and at least three responses to fellow classmates are expected by the end of the week on Sunday by 11:30PM ET.