Explanation

We now move beyond the issue of description to explore the topic of explanation. For social scientists, this means focusing on causation. For example, if we pose the following question, “How do we account for the fact that ‘Hell happens…?” we are automatically compelled to consider possible causes. Since one or more causes are conceivable options, we have to make a choice about better or worse explanations.

This bring up a second issue.

How do issues of cause and effect become muddied as a result of different understandings of a topic like Hell?  If I believe Hell means one thing and you believe it means something quite different, we may identify different causes.  As we move along in this seminar, we will see that these issues have important implications for our actions.

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TORTURE:  “THE DEVIL’S DEED

11. Tuesday, February 18 

In this and our following meeting, we will use the example of  torture to explore an old question:  “Why do (presumably) good people do (clearly) bad things?  This is an issue of explanation.

Today, we will revisit the horrors of the 2004 Abu Ghraib torture and abuse scandal by watching the acclaimed HBO documentary:  “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib”  HERE  (We will watch this film in class; you do not need to watch it beforehand)

Review this timeline in preparation for the film:  READ

12. Thursday, February 20

Discussion:

How can we explain the massive human rights violations at Abu Ghraib.  In addition to discussing “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib,” we will also consider the following arguments, the first three implicit and the fourth explicit (about Nazi genocide):

The DOD Schlesinger Report, Executive Summary, pp. 10-19:  PRINT AND READ

Excerpts from the Schlesinger report:  PRINT AND READ

Who was punished?  READ

UN Convention against Torture, Articles 1-4 READ

Geneva Convention, Part II: READ

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TECHNODYSTOPIA:  “A HELL OF OUR OWN MAKING”

13. Tuesday, February 25

Discussion:

Dave Eggers, The Circle:  Read up ro 253.

Google “R” Us:  “Mission Statement” PRINT AND READ  (Google’s slogan used to be ‘Don’t be Evil.’ Now, it is something different.

Disneyland “R” Us: SKIM THIS ARTICLE TO GET THE BASIC IDEA

Facebook “R” US: READ AND PRINT

Lee Gardner, “Students under Surveillance” READ

14. Thursday, February 27

Discussion:

Dave Eggers, The Circle:  Finish the book.

Robert Tracinski, “‘Don’t Be Evil’? Google Is Becoming A Police State” PRINT AND READ

Nicholas Confessore and Cecilia Kang, “Facebook Data Scandals Stoke Criticism That a Privacy Watchdog Too Rarely Bites” PRINT AND READ

TED talk with Yuval Noah Herari WATCH (optional )

Nellie Bowles, “Tech C.E.O.s Are in Love With Their Principal Doomsayer”  READ

 

OMG:  Please leave your technology at home.  This includes electronic devices of any kind, such as laptops, i-Pads, i-Pads2, I-Phones 12, FBI trap-and-trace tools, Kindles, video cameras, or other personal digital devices.