LMU ☀️ HNRS 240
ON THE NATURE OF THINGS
Syllabus • Spring, 2013

3 semester hours
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:25 a.m. – 10:40 p.m. in Doolan 219
Instructor: Ray Toal, Doolan 110, rtoal@lmu.edu, +1 310.338.2773

Learning Outcomes

science

This course will examine the nature of the universe (whatever that may mean). Specifically, we will discuss how we humans are able to perceive, model, study, and discover explanations of everything and of nothing, mostly through the application of the scientific method. We will look into what science is, why it works, and something known as the philosophy of science. In addition, as our understanding of the universe depends on understanding understanding, we will look into what we have learned about ourselves, our minds and brains, intelligence, consciousness, and self-awareness.

By the end of the course, students will be able to reason about and explain the principal concepts in the following seven areas:

Students will also exhibit a deeper working knowledge of at least one of the seven areas (to be demonstrated via a self-produced video or TED-style talk). Finally, students will gain an appreciation for the ways in which newer fields such as computer science and neuroscience add to the ongoing contributions of the classic sciences and psychology toward a better understanding of the cosmos and ourselves, and be able to formulate their own theories of consciousness, the mind-body problem, reality, artificial intelligence, and the likelihood of creating sentient devices.

Prerequisites

Honors standing • Willingness to try your hand at writing computer programs and making videos or giving talks • Willingness to participate in class, even though we meet at 9:25 in the morning • Skepticism

Readings

You will read the following four works (they average about $10 each):

     

I'll be getting some lecture material from the following works; you don't need to read them for the course, but you might like to:

The following books are nice to have, but not at all required. You might like to pick up one or more of them for sources for your projects.

In addition, students will be assigned a number of classic and influential articles and essays from philosophy, logic, linguistics, and computation theory, as well as a few video lectures and feature films. A partial list follows:

Various papers and readings will be assigned throughout the course (including my own course notes, practice problems, and sample code). These readings will be posted on individual assignment pages. If you have projects or papers to work on, you’ll have to find some additional readings on your own. Make sure you take the time for effective self-study. Take advantage of classmates and friends; the computing industry is one of the most collaborative fields in which to work, and your course experience should reflect this.

Workload

In accordance with the LMU Credit Hour Policy, this 3-unit course will require 9 hours of work per week (including the time spent in lecture and lab).

Assignments and Grading

As is typical of honors courses, you will be expected to (1) participate and (2) produce original work. You will also be required to read articles and watch videos, and submit graded problem sets which will give you the chance to prove that you have indeed "learned" some course content.

Your participation score will be assigned based on the value your comments add to class discussions. Your original works will be three: (1) a short essay or book review on material related to the course content — approximately 3 pages, (2) a paper on a topic that interests you (related to the course), approximately 8 pages, and (3) either a 10-minute TED-style talk, or video you create on your own. If you don’t know what a TED Talk is, go over to ted.com and watch about 50 of them.

Your final grade will be weighted as follows:

Participation
15 pts
 
Problem Sets
15 pts
 
Short Essay or Book Review
8 pts
 
Paper
17 pts
 
Video or Talk
26 pts
 
Final Exam
19 pts
 

Letter grades are figured according to the usual scale: 90% or more of the total points guarantees you an A, 80% a B, 70% a C, and so on. Note the word guarantee: 82 points will earn you at least a B-; you might still get an A if 82 is or is near the top score. The lower bounds ensure grades measure your achievement of the learning outcomes, and can never punish you because you did very well but on the low end of a class full of high-achievers.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to:

In return, you are expected to:

For online courses, I recommend your camera be turned on unless you have bandwidth problems or need to step away.

Two Tips for Success

You've probably seen hundreds of these, but there are two that stand out.

First, be aware of how many students trick themselves in to thinking they’re learning. Cramming and rereading do not move information from your working memory into long-term memory. Short-term working memory is not “learned.” Recall is the most effective. Please work through Nicky Case’s interactive essay How to remember everything forever-ish. (Also, this article backs up the importance of recall.)

Second, use checklists, as these are incredibly effective. Read Atul Gawande’s The Checklist and think about how you apply these to your studies.

Topics

The actual topic list may fluctuate, but we will be sure to cover the following major topics.

Additional Information

LMU from above

Tentative Nature of the Syllabus. If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to revision; students are responsible for any changes or modifications announced or distributed in class or posted online.

Course Evaluation. Student feedback on this course provides valuable information for continued improvement. All students are expected to fairly and thoughtfully complete a course evaluation for this course. Course evaluations for the Seaver College of Science and Engineering are administered online through the Blue™ evaluation system. You will receive an e-mail notification at your Lion e-mail address when the evaluation form is available. You may also access the evaluation form on Brightspace during the evaluation period. A few minutes of class time will be reserved for you to complete a course evaluation near the end of the semester. Please bring a laptop, smart phone, tablet or other mobile device to class on this date so that you can access the online evaluation platform.

Academic Honesty. Loyola Marymount University is a community dedicated to academic excellence, student- centered education and the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. As such, the University expects all members of its community to act with honesty and integrity at all times, especially in their academic work. Academic honesty respects the intellectual and creative work of others, flows from dedication and pride in performing one’s own best work, and is essential if true learning is to take place. As an LMU Lion, you are pledged to join the discourse of the academy with honesty of voice and integrity of scholarship.

Academic dishonesty will be treated as an extremely serious matter with severe consequences that can range from receiving no credit for an assignment or test to failing the class, to expulsion. It is never permissible to turn in any work not been authored by you without properly acknowledging the source. It is your responsibility to make sure that your work meets the standard of academic honesty set forth in the “LMU Honor Code and Process” which appears in the LMU Bulletin.

Special Accommodations. Students with special needs who require reasonable modifications, special assistance, or accommodations in this course should promptly direct their request to the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office. Any student who currently has a documented disability (ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning, Physical, or Psychiatric) needing academic accommodations should contact the DSS Office in Daum Hall, as early in the semester as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please visit LMU DSS for additional information. Please request any needed assistance as early in the semester as possible.

Wellness. Please familiarize yourself with, and make use, of the resources at Lion Wellness as needed.

Reporting Requirements of Sexual or Interpersonal Misconduct. As responsible employees, faculty are required to report any case of suspected sexual or interpersonal misconduct and cannot protect student confidentiality. For information about confidential counseling on campus and for general information about consensual relationships, sexual harassment, and sexual assault, please visit LMU Cares.

Emergency Preparedness. To report an emergency or suspicious activity, phone the LMU Department of Public Safety (x222 or 310-338-2893) or at the nearest emergency call box. In the event of an evacuation, follow the evacuation signage throughout the building to the designated safe refuge area where you will receive further instruction from Public Safety or a Building Captain. For more safety information and preparedness tips, visit LMU DPS.

 

Ray Toal • Computer Science Department • College of Science and Engineering • Loyola Marymount University