Area 1: Has Technology Delivered on its Promise of Human Betterment?

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We now realize that our powers of mastery are not entirely within our control and that in an odd twist technology itself has become our fate.

Technology is crucial to civilization because it provides humanity with the means to conquer fate. With the aid of technology, we are now in control of processes that once controlled us. But this newfound power is deeply problematic. We now realize that our powers of mastery are not entirely within our control and that in an odd twist technology itself has become our fate.

One of the signs of technology’s hold on humanity is the process called “globalization.” It appears inevitable that into the future political, economic, and social systems will continue to converge to produce a planetary civilization centered on the principle of efficiency, the driving force behind technology and technological development. Even in the event that globalization were to stall, it would likely be in reaction to the tightening grip of the modern technological order. So there is no escaping technology and its transformative powers. It follows that gaining an understanding of technology is crucial to uncovering the possibilities and the limitations of our era.

The lectures and seminars for this Area of the course will explore these complex phenomena in an effort to answer the question of whether technology has delivered on its promise of human betterment.

Introductory Lecturer:
Dr. Ron Srigley
Lecture Title:
"Ulysses' Choice:  Albert Camus and the Origins of Modern Totalitarianism"
Dates:
September 7 - September 13, 2011

Lecturer:
Dr. Reuben Domike
Lecture Title - Area One:
"Has Technology Delivered on its Promise of Human Betterment?  Clearly Yes!  However...."
Dates:
September 14 - September 20, 2011

Lecturer:
Dr. Gil Germain
Lecture Title - Area One:
"In Praise of Alienation"
Dates: 
September 21 - September 27, 2011

Lecturer:
Dr. Doreley Coll
Lecture Title - Area One:
"Potatoes, Chocolate, Tobacco, ipods, Blackberries and the Internet:  from the Renaissance to Postmodern Transatlantic Techno-knowledge"
Dates:
September 28 - October 4, 2011

Lecturer:
Dr. Christian Lacroix
Lecture Title - Area One:
"The New and Improved Human"
Dates:
October 5 - October 11, 2011