LS 666 - Personhood at the Extremes

(3.00 cr.)

Humans have persisted in thinking of themselves as a species apart, but what makes humankind unique, both individually and as a species, remains unclear. Advances in neuroscience and computer science, as well as ethics, generate questions about the nature of intelligence, consciousness, and personhood and the rights and protections associated with being human. In this course students tackle classic readings from Descartes to modern ruminations on artificial intelligence, examine our relation to our creations and pets, and the way our various identities affect how our personhood is perceived and protected.