Critical Social Inquiry 0217 - Anthro Critiquing Reality

Using virtual reality as an explorative tool, this class explores how culturally different theories of reality (metaphysics) exist in societies, objects and artifacts. This class is based on new anthropological research that explores how people's assumptions and beliefs about reality can dramatically affect daily life. Breaking from older world view approaches, the ontologically oriented anthropological research discussed in this class explores indigenous metaphysics and non traditional philosophies that resonate with quantum mechanics and new scientific theories of reality. In anthropological terms, this course will course will introduce students to the concepts of metaphysics and ontology while demonstrating that critical understandings of different metaphysical systems can lead to fuller and more critically informed anthropological knowledge production. Class work will involve online activities, video production, readings from anthropological and philosophical texts, and a virtual reality class project that will demonstrate the lessons learned in class while serving to be potential publishable research.

Mind, Brain, and Information Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Quantitative Skills Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.