Place: the University Recreation Center

You are encouraged, but not required, to work out before the discussion period begins.

We will meet in casual attire, including exercise attire for those who do have the energy to work out.

We will all read through the book "Human: The Definitive Visual Guide", a copy of which will be bought for you using an Honors Program stipend.

See a description of this book at, e.g., http://www.amazon.com/Human-Definitive-Visual-Robert-Winston/dp/0756619017.

Each student will be asked to lead a discussion on one section.

As one reviewer says: "The accomplishments of humanity down through history are profiled in Origins. The physical construction of ourselves is explained in the Body section. Mind looks at the working of our brain and how we are able to think, gather information, and share it through the employment of language. The Life Cycle section discusses the stages of existence we all go through from birth to death. The Society section explains how we work together in groups to provide for our basic necessities by producing goods and services, as well as how we delegate authority to ensure order and stability. Culture discusses common traditions shared from generation to generation such as religion, clothing styles, language, and science. Peoples looks at all the various ethnic groups from around the world. And finally, the Future section discusses the challenges and opportunities facing us as we move into the new millennium."

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Place: the University Recreation Center

You are encouraged, but not required, to work out before the discussion period begins.

We will meet in casual attire, including exercise attire for those who do have the energy to work out.

Each student is asked to choose a book related to the issue of “What does it mean to be human?” in view of what we now know from science, history, etc.

You are encouraged to choose a book (and topic) related to your main field of interest – although you may wish to choose a completely different area -- and then to educate the rest of us by acting as leader during a discussion of your book and topic.

As soon as you choose a book (immediately after the first get-together meeting), the faculty mentor will buy it online for you using an Honors Program stipend.

Example: According to new discoveries in neuroscience, various parts of your brain are rather closely connected with your thoughts and experiences. What does this mean?

According to new discoveries in cosmology, the universe is inconceivably larger and richer than we realized only a century ago. Again, what does this mean?

What do history, literature, music, art, philosophy, religion, etc. tell us about what it means to be human?

And we expect you to make up your own questions!

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This subject will be explored via films, readings, and discussions. Each student will be given a copy of "Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution", by Francis Fukuyama, and "The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence", by Ray Kurzweil.

We will spend one meeting discussing each of these two books. In addition, each student will be asked to lead a discussion on a reading of his or her choice. (This is the only time during the semester when serious preparation will be required, by the student leading that particular discussion.)

Two films will be shown: "Equilibrium" (a 2002 movie starring Christian Bale before he was Batman) and "Terminator 2" (a 1991 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger before he was Governor of California), with both films viewed as (highly entertaining) science fiction which contain valid issues worth discussing.

Very roughly speaking, "Equilibrium" parallels the book by Fukuyama, and "Terminator 2" the book by Kurzweil. Our theme is this: Where are we going, and where do we want to go, during the 21st Century?

Films to be shown:

(1) "Triumph of the Nerds", starring Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft, etc.

(2) "Revolution OS", starring the creators of GNU, Linux, etc.

(3) "Tiny Machines: The Feynman Lecture on Nanotechnology", starring Richard Feynman.

(4) “Gattaca”, starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin, Jude Law, and Gore Vidal – life in a future which aspires to genetic perfection.

Books for discussion:

The Next Fifty years, edited by John Brockman -- essays by 25 top scientists on what the future holds.

Nano, by John Robert Marlow – a garish novel in the action scifi genre which will nevertheless make you think about the potential benefits and destructive possibilities of nanotechnology.

Further suggestions are welcome, especially in areas like biotechnology.