PSYC 110a - The Science and Fiction of Mind

Institution:

Vassar College

Subject:

Description:

(Same as Cognitive Science 110) Our understanding of what minds are, and of how they work, has exploded dramatically in the last half century. As in other areas of science, the more we know, the harder it becomes to convey the richness and complexity of that knowledge to non-specialists. This Freshman Writing Seminar explores two different styles of writing for explaining new findings about the nature of mind to a general audience. The most direct of these styles is journalistic and explanatory, and is well represented by the work of people like Steven Pinker, Bruce Bower, Stephen J. Gould, and Ray Kurzweil. The second style is fictional. At its best, science fiction not only entertains, it stretches the reader's mind to a view of implications and possibilities beyond what is currently known. Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Greg Bear, and Richard Powers all provide excellent models of this kind of writing. During the semester we explore two or three areas of new research about how the mind works, and practice the skills of translating that knowledge into both readable description and entertaining narrative. Mr. Livingston. Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar. Not offered in 2008/09.

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.vassar.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 437-7000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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