21W.S96 Writing about Risk in an Era Without Boundaries
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The critical decisions we need to make to flourish as a society have never been more urgent, but how can we hope to make coherent choices without an informed public? Particularly when choices are never clear. And when it comes to scientific advances, that has never been more true. The course will focus on the philosophical decisions society needs to make when assessing scientific choices and confronting the potential of catastrophic risk. We will look at some of the most contentious and potentially valuable technologies and the moral, political, and philosophical issues they raise.
Discussion led by Michael Specter, hosted by Seth Mnookin
Wednesdays 1-2:30
4-146
February 9-April 6