New York University Professor Francesca Ferrando

Liberal Studies Email: [email protected]

Arts & Science Social Foundations III, Spring 2020
726 Broadway, 6th Floor Office Hours: M-W 5:00-6:00

SYLLABUS

Course Description

Course:
Social Foundations, SFIII-UF 103
(Global Works and Society: Modernity, GWM-UF 201)

Title:
“From Humans to Posthumans”

This course develops around the notion of the human, presenting it not as a static category,
but as a process which is constantly evolving. In the first part of the course, we will explore key
concepts such as: evolution, the overhuman (Nietzsche), and technology. In parallel, we will
address the notion of the posthuman which, in the contemporary debate, has become a key term
to cope with the urgency for an integral redefinition of the human. The philosophical landscape
which has developed, includes several schools of thought such as: Posthumanism,
Transhumanism, Antihumanism and New Materialism. We will explore the differences between
these movements, entering actively into the debate; following, we will analyze, more clearly,
Philosophical Posthumanism, and why such philosophical approach may suit not only the
geological time of the Anthropocene, but also the current era of radical biotechnological
developments, cognitive robotics and big data.
In the second part of the course, we will address the deconstruction of the notion of the
human, following different dualisms (and assets of discrimination) based on: class, race,
ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age and physical abilities, among others. From Marx and
Engels, we will explore the Seventies and Eighties (Feminism, Critical Race Theory, Post-
Colonialism) to the Nineties (Intersectionality, Cyborg Theory, Animal Studies). In the third part
of the course, we will focus on Environmental Studies and the rise of the Anthropocene in
relation to contemporary issues such as human enhancement; artificial intelligence and space
migration. Eastern and Western views on the future of humanity will be analyzed, developing an
open conversation to envision desirable futures for humans and non humans alike.
The course will provide an interactive environment where students directly engage with the
contemporary debate. In four workshops, we will discuss crucial topics such as human diversity
(Politics), the “pros and cons” of human enhancement (Bioethics), space migration (Futures
Studies), and how to move towards an equal and just posthuman society (Ethics & Pragmatics).
Students are encourage to develop their own specific contributions to the field through
individualized projects. This course will enrich each participant in their intellectual, existential
and social perspectives, realizing that we all have agency in the developments of our species.

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Schedule of Activities:

Week 1 1/27 M Introduction to the course, its goals, contents and requirements.

Week 2 1/29 W The composite landscape of the Posthuman

Readings:
Ferrando, F. “Posthumanism, Transhumanism, Antihumanism,
Metahumanism, and New Materialisms: Differences and Relations”;
“The Body”

Topics:
Introduction to Posthumanism

First Section:
The Human as an Evolving Notion
Transhumanism

Week 3 2/3 M Evolution

Readings:
Darwin, C. (1859) “On the Origins of Species” (selected passages)
Lamarck, J. B. (1809) “Zoological Philosophy” (selected passages)

Topics:
Evolution
Lamarck, J. B. - the inheritance of acquired characters
Darwin, C.

2/5 W Transhumanism

Readings:
Bostrom, N. (2008) “Ethical Issues in Human
Enhancement”
Online Text:
http://www.nickbostrom.com/ethics/human-enhancement.html

Topics:
Humanity +
Transhumanism
Human Enhancement and Liberal Eugenics

2/10 M Human Enhancement and Its Critics

Readings:
Fukuyama, F. (2002) “Our Posthuman Future” (selected passages)

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 Topics:
Pros and Cons of Human Enhancement

Week 4 2/12 W The history of Eugenics

Readings:
Huxley, J. (1957) “Transhumanism” pp. 13-17.
Online Text:
http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/more/huxley

CONFERENCE DAY

Week 4 2/17 M Presidents' Day (No classes scheduled / University Holiday)

2/19 W Workshop “The Posthuman” 1

Movie:
Gattaca

Readings:
Philosophical Posthumanism, Ch. 23-25

Research Topic:
Pros and Cons of Human Enhancement (Bioethics)

Second Section: The human as a bridge

(Focus: technology)

Week 5 2/24 M How to Write a Paper (First essay due 10/16)

1. Nietzsche – Life and Works
or
2. Heidegger – Life and Works
(The specific topic – 1 or 2 – will be decided based on the students'
interests)

Documentary:
“Human, All Too Human”

1. Nietzsche's Overhuman
Readings:
Nietzsche (1883-5) “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” (selected passages)
(Trans. Del Caro, A., Pippin, R., 2006)

or

2. Technology as a Way of Revealing

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 Readings:
Heidegger, M. (1949) “The Question Concerning Technology”
(The specific topic – 1 or 2 – will be decided based on the students'
interests)

Topics:
The Overhuman
Technology and Ontology

2/26 W AI takeover

Readings:
A. M. Turing (1950) “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”

Topics:
AI Takeover
Machine Intelligence

Week 6 3/02 M Cyborgs

(Category of Deconstruction: Species)

Readings:
Haraway, D. (1985) “A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Science, Technology,
and Socialist Feminism in the 1980s”

Topics:
Haraway, D.
Animal Studies
Cyborg Studies

3/04 W Big Data

Readings:
Y. N. Harari (2016) “Homo Deus”

Documentary:
TBA

Topics:
Machine Consciousness and Robo-ethics

Week 7 3/09 M FIRST PAPER DUE

Workshop “The Posthuman” 2

Research Topic:
Pros and Cons of Technology

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 Movie (choose one):
Jonze (2013) “Her”
Garland (2014) “Ex Machina”

Technology and Spirituality

Readings:
Mori, M. (1970) “The Buddha in the Robot” (selected passages)

Topics:
Asian perspectives on Technology and Post-Dualism
Nhat Hanh, T. (1987) “Interbeing”

03/11 W Revision for Midterm Exam

03/16-22 Spring Recess

Week 8 03/23 M Revision for Midterm Exam

03/25 W MIDTERM EXAM

Third Section:
Deconstructing the “Human”
(Focus: Socio-Cultural / Political)

Week 9 03/30 M Category of Deconstruction: Nature / Culture

Readings:
Rousseau, J.J. (1754) “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality”

Topics:
Rousseau, J.J.
Nature / Culture
Economic Inequality

4/01 W Category of Deconstruction: Class

Readings:
Marx, K. / Engels, F. (1848) “The Communist Manifesto”
Online Text:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifest
o.pdf

Topics:
Classism
Marx, K. / Engels, F.
The Legacy of Marxism

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Friday, April 3, 2020 Faculty deadline for entering midterm grades.
MIDTERM GRADES DEADLINE

Week 10 4/06 M Category of Deconstruction: Gender & Sexual Orientation /

Intersectionality

Readings:
De Beauvoir, S. (1949) “The Second Sex” (selected passages)

Topics:
Sexism
Homophobia & Queer Studies

4/08 W Category of Deconstruction: Race

Readings:
King, M. L. (1963) “Letter From Birmingham Jail”

Readings:
Crenshaw, K. (1989) “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and
Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine,
Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics”
Online:
http://philpapers.org/archive/CREDTI.pdf

Topics:
Racism
King, M. L. & The influence of Gandhi on King
Intersectionality

Week 11 4/13 M Category of Deconstruction: Ethnicity

Readings:
Said, E. (1978) “Orientalism” (selected passages)

Topics:
Islamophobia

4/15 W SECOND ESSAY

Workshop “The Posthuman” 3

Research Topic:
Recognizing Human Diversity

Fourth Section:

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 Cyborgs, Non-Human Others, Posthumanities
(Focus: Future Studies)

Week 12 4/20 M Interconnection

The Environment and The Anthropocene

Readings:
Shiva, V. (1995) “Biotechnological Development and the
Conservation of Biodiversity” pp. 193-213

Crutzen, P. J., Stoermer, E. F. (2000) The “Anthropocene” In: Global

Change Newsletter No. 41, pp. 17-18

Topics:
Environmental Studies
Sustainability & The Anthropocene

4/22 W Post-Anthropocentrism

Readings:
Braidotti, R. (2013) The Posthuman (selected passages)

Week 13 4/27 M Workshop “The Posthuman” 4

Writing a posthuman manifesto

Research Topic:
Futures Studies
Towards a Posthuman Future

DEADLINE FOR INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

Student Presentations
(Projects)

4/29 W Revision for Final Exam

Week 14 5/4 M Class Evaluation

Revision for Final Exam

DEADLINE FOR EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES

5/6 W Student Presentations

(External Activities)

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Week 15 5/11 M End-of-Semester Celebration
Sharing Circle

Week 16 5/13-5/19 FINAL EXAM

1. Class MW 2:00 – 3:15pm

Exam: WED 5/13 2pm-3:50pm

2. Class MW 3:30 – 4:45pm

Exam: FRI 5/15 2pm-3:50pm

List of Texts

Selections of the readings listed in the syllabus will be provided electronically as pdfs, via library
databases, or as links.

Reference:

Ferrando, F. (2019) Philosophical Posthumanism, Bloomsbury: London et al.

NB. This text is available at Bobst Library (both as a course reserve and as an online resource).

Further Readings:

Braidotti, R. (2014) The Posthuman, Polity: London.

Hayles, K. (1999) How We Became Posthuman, University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
Wolf, C. (2010) What is Posthumanism? University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis.

Course Requirements & Grading

1. Attendance and Participation (4% each): 8%

2. Hosting (2 shifts, 4% each): 8%
3. Essays (2 Essays: 20% each): 40%
4. Midterm and Final Exam (15% each): 30%
5. Writing Assignments: 8%
6. External Activity and Independent Project (3% each): 6%

1. Attendance and Participation:

Students are required to attend every class, do the assigned reading, and finish all course work on
time. Students must bring the assigned book(s) and/or text(s) to class and be prepared for
discussions. This grading is a reward for attending and for being active and inspiring during the
class discussions.
Attendance (4%): Students will be automatically graded on NYU Classes (“Attendance”) based
on their actual attendance score. For further info on absence policy, please see “Attendance
Policy”.
Participation (4%): Students who have 0 to 3 absences and are active participants, will be given

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full score.

2. Hosting:

This grading will be devoted to covering a number of shifts (2) as hosts, according to these
guidelines. For each class, we will designate a team of 3 hosts in a balanced rotation. Each host
will give a 5 minute presentation on a topic of their choice, selected between the material
indicated in the section “Topics,” or independently proposed (upon prior agreement). These
presentations shall be done with slides. Once they have presented, each host will share their
slides with the classmates on the course website. All info can be found on our website: “NYU
Classes – Forum – Info for Presenters.”
Missing your turn: If you miss your presentation, you will be offered another slot for half points
(2/4).

b. After the designated leaders have presented, we will open the discussion to all the participants.
This is the class etiquette, which will be enforced and maintained:

– everyone has the opportunity and feels welcome to present their view; no-one feels
discriminated against based on their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, political or personal
view, physical (dis)abilities, personal characteristics etc.

– the discussion is balanced in tone and in the amount of time offered to each discussant
and to each presenter (everyone respectfully taking the podium; no-one left in the
shadow)

Note that the use of neutral language is mandatory both in your writing as well as in the
classroom. Make sure to use gender-neutral language and race-neutral words; avoid expressions
that stereotype or patronize LBGT persons as well as people of different ethnicities, religions,
beliefs, physical and/or intellectual (dis)abilities.

3. Two essays

Two essays between 1,750 and 2,000 words, typed, 1.5 spacing (1” margin on all sides, font:
Times New Roman 12). Please, make sure to add the word count at the top of your paper. The
total amount of words, between the 2 essays, has to be at least 3,500-4,000 words of finished
writing. These essays must reflect your understanding of the texts covered in class as described
above. You will be expected to do a close reading that includes textual analysis, as well as
demonstrating strong argumentative and rhetorical skills (do not simply summarize the text). A
list of possible topics will be provided. Alternatively, students are given the opportunity to
develop their papers on specific topics of interest upon approval. Students have to submit papers
both as a paper copy and an electronic one.
Dates of submission (for Essay 1 and Essay 2): See “Schedule of Activities”
Late submissions will be accepted with a penalty for each day of lateness.

4. Exams

Midterm and final exams are comprised of multiple choice questions.

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Dates (Midterm and Final Exam): See “Schedule of Activities”
Late submissions will not be accepted.

5. Writing Assignments:

Post them online, on NYU Classes. I will check them periodically over the semester. Please, note
that each assignment should be uploaded before class.
Late assignments: If you miss the deadline, you can re-submit up to a total of 3 assignments
within one week from the original date of submission.

6a. External activity

The external activity must be completed by May 4th 2020. External activities are an opportunity
to develop the conversation outside of the classroom and explore NYC. Please, feel free to
collaborate with some classmates and enjoy this unique opportunity to learn together. You can
choose one of the following:

1. Visits to related exhibits / museums / conferences (upon prior agreement and with related
proofs of attendance). You will have to give short presentation in class. Credits: up to
3%.

Ps. Please, note that in some cases, covering an extra shift as host can also be accepted. If you
have already covered your required turns (see “Grading / Attendance and Participation”), and
there is a need for a host, you may volunteer (upon prior agreement) (no more than one extra
shift for each student). Credits: up to 3%.

6b. Independent project

Students shall freely choose an easily manageable project that represents them and inspire them.
This independent project must be completed by April 27 th 2020 individually or collectively (max:
5 students). This individualized approach is an opportunity to actively participate in the
posthuman debate developing a small project specifically related to the student(s)'s interests.
Students may develop their own critical and generative insights on the posthuman paradigm shift
in different ways. For instance:

2. A short talk / performance / video based on one of your essays or on one of the topics
addressed in class at the 4th Global Symposium, NYU 2020 (upon prior agreement). This
presentation shall last no more than 5 minutes, and shall not be a mere reading of your
essay. It shall have a clear argument and shall include slides / multimedia / performative
arts / rhetorical skills: creativity and originality are strongly encouraged and will be
evaluated positively.
3. Students can produce slide shows, acts, art pieces, websites, videos, music, poetry,
articles and performances (upon prior agreement).
4. Students can engage in activism, volunteering activities, networking, organizing etc.
(upon prior agreement).

Students will have to document their activities. Projects will be presented in class or during

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related events (upon prior agreement). Credits: up to 3%.

NB. Please, note that students can combine items 6a and 6b upon prior agreement.

Workshop

This workshop is aimed at experiencing first hand the task of setting a document for posterity, a
manifesto outlined for the evolution of a just and equal posthuman society. In four workshops,
conducted by a team of 5 to 8 leaders, we will discuss crucial topics such as human diversity
(Politics), the pros and cons of human enhancement (Bioethics), and how to move towards a
posthuman society (Ethics & Pragmatics).

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the semester, you will be able to develop specific tools, useful in and outside
academia.

More specifically, academic goals:

 create a developmental philosophical understanding of our location as a species, allowing

for a deeper perspective on social norms and habits;
 find unstated assumptions in the text/work;
 identify knowledge, methods, or conventions of different fields of study;
 take advantage of appropriate university resources that facilitate achieving intellectual,
personal, and professional fulfillment;

More specifically, personal goals:

 create a developmental philosophical understanding of your own perspectives in life,

allowing for a deeper understanding of your own agency to shape the narrative of your
existential unfolding;
 record and reflect upon observations and learning across semesters to develop more
advanced projects, objectives and intentions;

Merging academic and personal goals:

 understand and apply the means to develop a topic that is interdisciplinary in approach
and global or comparative in nature; a topic that is not only of academic interest, but that
is relevant to you: something that you care about.

Electronic Devices Policy

Before entering the class, make sure that your phone is turned off or, in case of personal
emergencies, silenced (please, inform me if so before the class starts).

Absence Policy

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Absence and repeated lateness will diminish the grade (more than six absences without
legitimate excuse will result in failure for the course). Below is the Absence Policy according to
LSP guidelines:

* Please furnish me with a written explanation if you miss two consecutive classes.

* If you miss more than three classes for reasons besides religious observance, your class
participation grade will fall by five points per each absence.

* (1) Be aware that it is my duty to contact the Advising Office to make further inquiries should
you miss four consecutive classes.

* (2) You cannot pass the course if you miss six consecutive classes for any reason (excluding
religious observance).

* (3) If you miss more than six (non-consecutive) classes for reasons besides religious
observance, you cannot pass the course.

If you plan to miss any classes for religious observance this semester, please let me know their
dates by the end of the first week of the term. You will not in any way be penalized for such
absences, but I may require you to submit any work due for these classes in advance.

Please, note that attendance is taken electronically on NYU Classes. If you arrive late, you have
to double-check that your presence was taken before the class ends. If you forget to do so, you
will have to send me a reminder that you were late within 3 days from the original date. To be
fair to all students, notes sent after 3 days will not be taken into account. Thanks.

PS. A maximum of two absences related to documented medical conditions will be excused
(these are not cumulative in case n. 2 and n. 3). You will need to provide documentation within
one week of the date of the absence(s) for the absence(s) to be excused.

Plagiarism & Academic Rigor

NYU faculty take your scholarly work seriously. We expect you to read your assignments
thoroughly, analyze them carefully, and articulate your understanding clearly. Academic honesty
is a required standard. For these reasons, plagiarism (that is, presenting someone else’s ideas,
works or words as your own), is simply not tolerated and will result in failure of the course for
the student who plagiarizes. Please refer to Liberal Studies Program’s Student Handbook for a
better understanding of plagiarism.

Please, note that course materials such as syllabi, assignments, and test questions belong to the
instructor and may not be reproduced or shared in any fashion without the instructor’s explicit
written permission.

Differently-Abled Students

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Differently-abled students who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at (212) 998-4980 as soon
as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. For
more information, see the CSD website: http://www.nyu.edu.osl/csd.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Liberal Studies shares NYU’s commitment to “an inclusive community in which every member
feels they have a rightful place, is welcome and respected, and is supported in their endeavors.”
We expect students to work toward this shared goal. You are invited to bring forward any
concerns about diversity, equity, or inclusion to your instructor, your advisor, or other faculty
member. For further resources, see: http://liberalstudies.nyu.edu/student-life/diversity-equity-and-
inclusion.html.

Office Hours

Mondays and Wednesdays: 5.00 - 6.00 pm.

Emails will be answered within 24 hours (M-F):

[email protected]

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