JAN 206 - Stories of the Universe

Instructor(s):  Hughes, Sheila Hassell
Email:  smh21@stmarys-ca.edu

What does it mean to be human in the 21st Century, and what will it mean a few decades from now, as rapidly shifting technologies impact every aspect of our lives and consciousness? How can we make sense of our place in the world, and gain a deep sense of purpose and direction, when we can’t even keep up with what is happening around and to us? This crux, what has been called the “techno-social dilemma,” presents a profound challenge, but it’s one we have resources to help us address.
 
This course is framed by the ancient and quintessentially human practice of storytelling as a means for finding meaning, purpose, and direction in a world of uncertainty. We will consider three particular kinds of cosmic stories: (1) ancient creation and origin stories from different cultural and religious traditions; (2) scientific narratives about earthly and human origins that, along with rapid technological change, have challenged those ancient narratives; and (3) a third story offered by some scientists and thinkers today as an attempt to reconcile these conflicts through a “third story of the universe”-one that finds purpose and hope in evolution, and specifically, the evolution of human consciousness. In all this, we will be invited to explore our own existing, emerging, or potential sources of meaning, purpose, and direction in a rapidly changing world, where the very question of what it means to be human, and the value of the human, is in radical question.
 

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3-CU