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 a variety of possible causes. Since there are always other options, we must make a choice among 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 the idea of Hell? If I believe that Hell is caused by one thing and you believe it is caused by something quite different, we differ over how we explain Hell. As we move along in this seminar, we will see how the choice of one explanation over another may have significant implications for how we should act.
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TORTURE: “THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!”
10. Thursday, February 15
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?” Answering this question is an issue of explanation. It also raises the troubling question of whether all people are good.
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
11. Tuesday, February 20
Discussion:
What are the vying interpretations of the massive human rights violations at Abu Ghraib. In addition to discussing “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib,” we will also consider the implicit arguments in the following pieces:
The DOD Schlesinger Report, only the “Executive Summary,” pp. 5-6: PRINT AND READ
Go back to this site to see who was punished for rights violations, what the sentences were, and at what level of the chain of command: READ
UN Convention against Torture (ratified by the US in 1988), Articles 1-4 READ AND PRINT
Geneva Convention, Part I: General Provisions, Articles 1-10: READ and PRINT
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TECHNODYSTOPIA: “A HELL WE CHOOSE OR ONE THAT CHOOSES US?”
12. Thursday, February 22
Discussion:
Politics is about power, how people get it and how they use it. Do governments and international organizations have the power to control the spread of digital information?
Or have the masters of the digital world replaced the politicians and bureaucrats of the twentieth century?
Here is what they promise (along with some notable changes)
Google “R” Us: “Mission Statement” PRINT AND READ (Google’s slogan used to be ‘Don’t be Evil.’ Now, it is something different. Try to figure out what it is and/or could become.
Facebook “R” Us: THE FIVE CORE VALUES (2012) READ AND PRINT
Facebook “R” Us: Wait a minute! Now there are SIX CORE VALUES! What has changed? READ AND PRINT
Meta “R” US: LISTEN to as many of the videos under “The metaverse will be social” as possible. Fascinating stuff! Disturbing, too.
X “R” US: PRINT AND READ
August 2023
You may not use X’s services for the purpose of manipulating or interfering in elections or other civic processes, such as posting or sharing content that may suppress participation, mislead people about when, where, or how to participate in a civic process, or lead to offline violence during an election. Any attempt to undermine the integrity of civic participation undermines our core tenets of freedom of expression and as a result, we will apply labels to violative posts informing users that the content is misleading.
Compare the policy with this account of Elon Musk’s activities: HERE
Disneyland “R” Us: READ Then, ask yourself how the above platforms play on our “human nature” to retain our attention. Their mission statements play Who is primarily responsible for being controlled by the Web?
Paragraph Assignment: Today’s discussion topic introduces two major themes. The impact of human nature and the messages of those who control social media platforms. Normally, I would provide you with a question to link these themes. This time, I would like you to pose what you consider to be the best question. After posing it, identify the argument and counterargument, and then state where you stand. Be creative, be bold!
This assignment is also designed to help you with your essays. In addition, because you are busy writing your essays, you may limit your response to four sentences.
13. Tuesday, February 27
How Wise is it to put our Trust in Digital Service Providers?
Discussion: What are the risks for our privacy in entrusting our private data to those who control the internet?
Assignment: I don’t use Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, but many of you do. Go to one of these sites, or simply to Google, and track down the personal information that they collect about you. Print it, review the privacy guarantees of the site, and bring both it and the privacy rules to class. We will then discuss each of your findings.
To provoke you, let’s talk about Instagram. Anthony Cuthburtson, “Instagram is the most invasive app” PRINT AND READ
Read these additional short articles.
Melissa Castro Wyatt, “Students’ New Surveillance State” READ
Colleen Flaherty, “Lights, Camera, Tech” READ Monitoring your professors?
Nicholas Confessore and Cecilia Kang, “Facebook Data Scandals Stoke Criticism That a Privacy Watchdog Too Rarely Bites” PRINT AND READ
Nellie Bowles, “Tech C.E.O.s Are in Love With Their Principal Doomsayer” READ
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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.