Science, Technology & Society

Catalog description

As our society becomes increasingly dependent upon science and technology, understanding the ways these fields impact society (and vice-versa) and critically engaging with issues arising from their complex relationship becomes crucial. The aim of this class is to provide a survey of issues arising from the interaction between science, technology and society in the last century, and allow the student to begin grappling with these topics. This course will take a special interest in applications of technology in medical treatment, genetic modification, and the expansion of human capacities (physical and mental). Some questions of particular interest will be: How may we modify human nature to make it more immune to disease and, ultimately, immune to death? What are the limits of technological innovation in expanding human perceptual capacities, memory, and learning? Does a “technologized" world promise utopia or dystopia?