What is Truth?
Course Description
Today more than ever we are confronted with the urgent question of what is true. From stories about supposedly stolen elections to conspiracy theories about vaccines and 5G, how we decide what counts as the truth is constantly up for debate – and the debates have potentially serious consequences. With politically polarized information in the news and new technologies like generative AI to circulate falsehoods on social media, it has never been more important to examine how we know what is true and to consider how we can argue and debate about our beliefs responsibly and effectively. This intensive course in analytical writing at the collegiate level will offer a chance to think through these issues and to develop the skills necessary to craft rhetorically-effective argumentative essays examining the nature of truth. In our readings, we will tackle classic texts from authors like Plato and Machiavelli alongside feminist and postcolonial critiques by figures like Donna Haraway and Frantz Fanon. We will also examine different instances of cultural production that define or redefine what people think of as true, focusing especially on the power of satire to unmask falsehoods and change our frame of thinking, from twentieth-century theatre like that of Dario Fo to twenty-first century television and streaming programs like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. In our writing sessions, we will work closely to refine the techniques of writing and revision that will allow you to transform your ideas and insights into powerful essays, using rhetorical instruction materials and small group workshops that replicate the intensive writing seminars taken by University of Chicago undergraduates in the Humanities Core.
Course Criteria
Students should have strong grades in their History and English classes.
This course is intended for students who enjoy writing analytically and exploring philosophical themes. Students who excel in their English courses and want a college-level writing course will find that this serves as an excellent introduction to the kind of close reading, interpretive, and writing skills that undergraduates learn in the College at the University of Chicago.
Academic Interest
Humanities (e.g, arts, philosophy), Examining Culture and Society, Writing and Literature
Application Materials
A complete application includes a transcript, two short essays, a letter of recommendation, writing sample, application fee, and a submitted parent confirmation. If you are seeking need-based financial aid, you must indicate that in your application before it is submitted. Please refer to the Application Instructions for complete details.
Instructor(s)
Michael Subialka
Cost
$8,900
Other Courses to Consider
These courses might also be of interest. Note: Students can apply for up to 4 courses and will be admitted to one.
The Philosophy of Life and DeathThe focus of this course will be how philosophy arises in response to problems in the conditions of human life, especially our mortality and the prevalence of social injustice. Every one of us will die one day; and every one of us suffers from and/or helps perpetuate some form of injustice. These can be sources of alienation, suffering, and bad choices; they can also be sources of conviction, bravery, and wisdom. We will aim to understand how philosophy fits into this picture, and especially how a person can use philosophy to find meaning for their life in relation to both death and injustice. Topics will include how the fear of death affects us in life, the prospect of “critical” consciousness in relation to death, and understanding the political dimensions of life & death. We will discuss ancient texts and figures, such as Plato’s Socrates and the Buddha, as well as contemporary philosophical work and social issues in the US and elsewhere.
Residential
Understanding AI: Challenges, Changes for How We CommunicateGenerative AI, large language models (LLMs) -- these buzzwords have been popping up in newsrooms, classrooms, and dinner tables. Questions about safety, environmental impacts, economic impacts and educational effects make people wonder how AI works, how it might change and augment the way we communicate and write, and what we should do about it.
This class will give students the opportunity to
understand how AI-powered applications for writing such as Gmail’s Smart Compose feature and Grammarly’s personalized revision suggestions work
get hands-on-experiences working with various AI-powered writing tools
speak with researchers and industry professionals to understand the design, impact, and motivation of these AI-based tools
consider historical events such as the development of the printing press and the internet to contextualize the effects of technology on human communication
create a final project that analyzes and reflects on how technologies change the way that we communicate and write
Through these experiences, students will better understand the present AI landscape, with a focus on LLMs and their impacts on communication and writing, and form their own perspectives on the opportunities and risks of AI.
Residential