JAN 204-01 - The Human Story: Where Are We? How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Headed?

Level:  200-level

Course Times:  12:00pm - 2:40pm

Course Materials Fee:  $75

Instructor(s):  Sheila Hassell Hughes   

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 like AI 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 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 grand stories about the human species: (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) an integrative story offered by a growing number of scientists and thought-leaders today that seeks to reconcile these conflicts-a “third story” that offers us new ways to think about our history and future with technology and that finds purpose and hope in the evolution of human collective 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