History 285a: Human Biological Enhancement
Course Description
Human beings are rapidly acquiring an unprecedented capacity to manipulate their own biology, through advanced medical interventions and genetic alterations. At the same time, they are also developing machines so sophisticated that they may soon begin replicating some behaviors previously considered unique to the human species. As these two processes unfold over time, the net result is a blurring of the boundaries between humans and machines – a “convergence of opposites” that entails the progression of man-made entities toward the functional level of humans, and the simultaneous movement of human beings toward the qualitative status of partial artifacts, shaped by conscious will and design.
In this seminar we examine the challenges posed to human identity by these accelerating advances in pharmaceuticals, bioelectronics, and genetics. We will focus particularly on the debates that have surrounded these developments, both inside and outside of academia. Among the questions lying at the heart of these debates: To what extent can human personhood be modified, before it begins to break down? What would be the likely social and cultural consequences, if practices of human redesign came to be widely adopted over the decades to come? And finally, the most practical question of all: How much control do we have over the direction in which science and technology are taking our civilization?
Our approach will be interdisciplinary, encompassing developments in the natural sciences, technology, socioeconomic change, politics, popular culture, and philosophy.
The course will be divided into four thematic parts:
I. What’s at stake?
II. Redesigning humans
III. Technology and Society: How much control do humans have over the shaping of their own history?
IV. Peer review of each other’s research papers
Readings
– Julian Savulescu and Nick Bostrom, eds., Human Enhancement (Oxford, 2009)
– Deborah Johnson and Jameson Wetmore, eds., Technology and Society: Building Our Sociotechnical Future (MIT Press, 2009)
– Michael Bess, Icarus 2.0: Justice and Identity in a Post-Bionic Civilization (manuscript chapters) Available in a class pack at Campus Copy
– Michael Bess, Runaways: a novel ( manuscript) Available in a class pack at Campus Copy
Assignments, Grading
You should ALWAYS finish each day’s assigned reading before class meets on Monday or Wednesday. In order to carry out a satisfying discussion, it is ESSENTIAL that all students come to class well-prepared to contribute their thoughts and observations on the readings. I encourage you to take notes on the readings as you go along; this will also help you considerably when you are writing your research paper.
Each student will be asked to choose one class session during the semester in which he or she will start off the discussion with a 10-15 minute analytical report on that day’s reading.
There will be no examinations in this course. Written assignments will include a one-page topic proposal for your research paper, a one-page paper on the novel Runaways, an 8-10 page research paper, fourteen one-page (single-spaced) peer reviews of the first drafts of the research papers written by your fellow students; a revised version (8-10 pages) of your research paper; and a final one-page reflective essay on what you have learned in this course. Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of 5% per day. Peer review essays will receive no credit if they are handed in late.
Semester grades will be determined according to the following percentages:
Discussion participation and oral peer review: 15%
Topic proposal paper (1 page): 7%
1-page paper on Runaways: 5%
Research paper, first polished (not rough!) draft: 25%
1-page peer reviews: 2% each x 14 = 28%
Research paper, revised draft: 15%
1-page “What have I learned?” essay: 5%
Laptops and cell phones: I have conducted informal surveys of my undergraduate students and have determined that many of them find it distracting when other students have their laptops up and running during class. I therefore ask that you not open up your laptop during class and that you silence your cell phone and refrain from using your cell phone during class. Students having a special need for laptop use during class should come see me to make the appropriate arrangements.
All assignments for this course will be governed by Vanderbilt’s honor code. Please read carefully the description of the honor code in the student handbook and the section on plagiarism in the writing guidelines for this course. If you have any questions about this very important matter, please come and discuss them with me.
Course Schedule
Part I. What’s at stake?
Week 1
Wednesday, Jan. 13 — Intro and overview; discuss research paper topics; start film: The Measure of a Man
Start reading Runaways (needs to be done by Week 10)
Start reading Bess, Icarus 2.0, chs. 1-3
Week 2
Monday, Jan. 18 — Finish The Measure of a Man; discuss film.
Discuss Icarus 2.0, chs. 1-3
Wednesday, Jan. 20 — Discuss Icarus 2.0, ch. 4, ch. 5 (Pharmaceuticals)
Week 3
Monday, Jan. 25 — Discuss Icarus 2.0, ch. 6 (Bioelectronics), pp. 67-92
Wednesday, Jan. 27 — Discuss Icarus 2.0, ch. 6 (Bioelectronics), pp. 92-112
Part II. Redesigning Humans
Week 4
Monday, Feb. 2 — Discuss Icarus 2.0, ch. 7 (Genetics), pp. 113-138
Wednesday, Feb. 4 — Discuss Icarus 2.0, ch. 7 (Genetics) pp. 138-152
First paper due: research topic proposal (1 page single-spaced): Wednesday, (copies to classmates)
Thursday and Friday: Meet with me to discuss your research topics
Week 5
Monday, Feb. 8 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 1-3
Wednesday, Feb. 10 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 4-6
Week 6
Monday, Feb. 15 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 7-9
Wednesday, Feb. 17 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 10-12
Week 7
Monday, Feb. 22 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 13-15
Wednesday, Feb. 24 — Discuss Savulescu/Bostrom, chs. 16-18
Part III. Technology and Society: How much control do humans have over the shaping of their own history?
Week 8
Monday, March 1 — Discuss Johnson/Wetmore, Introduction, chs. 1-5
Wednesday, March 3 — Discuss Johnson/Wetmore, chs. 6-9
Week 9
Spring Break
Week 10
Monday, March 15 — Discuss Runaways
One-page paper due on Runaways
Wednesday, March 17 — Discuss Johnson/Wetmore, chs. 10-12, 14, 15
Week 11
Monday, March 22 — Discuss Johnson/Wetmore, chs. 17-19
Wednesday, March 24 — Discuss Johnson/Wetmore, chs. 25, 31
Paper swap. First polished draft of your research paper (8-10 pages) due. Please bring one double-spaced, one-sided copy for me and 14 single-spaced double-sided copies for your classmates
Part IV. Peer review of research papers
Week 12
Monday, March 29 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Wednesday, March 31 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Week 13
Monday, April 5 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Wednesday, April 7 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Week 14
Monday, April 12 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Wednesday, April 14 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Week 15
Monday, April 19 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Wednesday, April 21 — In-class peer review of two students’ research papers. (Each student hands in 1-page peer review of the two papers under discussion today. No late peer reviews accepted.)
Week 16
Monday, April 26 — Closing discussion: What have I learned?
* One-page single-spaced reflection essay due: What have I learned? (Copies to classmates)
* Revised research paper due in Bess’s mailbox in History Dept., by 3 pm, Wednesday, April 28