Critical Social Inquiry 0218 - The Posthuman in Philosophy and Science Fiction

The posthuman is not a kind of being, but a way of being, a tectonic shift in the conditions of life on Earth. This class traces the posthuman through texts in science, philosophy, and science fiction, with the goal of imagining and creating new environments and practices. What is a posthuman planet like? How about a posthuman society? Are there posthuman feelings? What does posthuman music sound like? Readings include John C. Lilly, Gregory Bateson, Donna Haraway, Vilem Flusser, and Jean Baudrillard, as well as fiction by H. P. Lovecraft, Stanislaw Lem, J.G. Ballard, Octavia Butler, and Marlen Haushofer. Students should be prepared to read one book per week, or the equivalent in essay form. The course includes an experimental writing component.

Environments and Change Students should expect to spend 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time. Books: Title: Seduction Author: Jean Baudrillard Title: No Future: Queer Theory and the Death Drive Author: Lee Edelman Title: Vampyroteuthius Infernalis Author: Vilem Flusser Title: Solaris Author: Stanislaw Lem Title: Alien Listening Author: Daniel Chua and Alexander Rehding Title: Crash Author: J.G. Ballard Title: Man and Dolphin Author: John C. Lilly Title: Parable of the Sower Author: Octavia Butler